Locrian Mode

Modes

[ Ionian ] [ Dorian ] [ Phrygian ] [ Lydian ] [ Mixolydian ] [ Aeolian ] [ Locrian ]

The Locrian Mode originally ascended from B to B'. Not common in Western music, but much used in Eastern.


Reference Scale:

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1'

Note

C

C#

D

D#

E

F

F#

G

G#

A

A#

B

C

Note

C

Db

D

Eb

E

F

Gb

G

Ab

A

Bb

B

C

Use this table to construct the mode starting on any note, using the pattern of intervals below.


Locrian Mode:

 

I

 

II

 

III

 

IV

 

V

 

VI

 

VII

 

VIII

 

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Note

B

 

C

 

D

 

E

 

F

 

G

 

A

 

B

This pattern of intervals: S-T-T-S-T-T-T is the characteristic of the Locrian mode.

Because the mode is characterised by its interval structure, you can start on any note and progress with the same intervals to produce a Locrian mode in that 'key'.


This would be 'G Locrian':


 

I

 

II

 

III

 

IV

 

V

 

VI

 

VII

 

VIII

 

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Semitone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Tone

 

Note

G

 

Ab(G#)

 

Bb(A#)

 

C

 

Db(C#)

 

Eb(D#)

 

F

 

G

copyright Paul Slater 2006 contact