Used inMetal, jazz (over half-diminished chords), avant-garde, film horror
What Is Locrian Mode?
Locrian Mode is one of the 7 modes derived from the major scale. Its interval formula — 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 — gives it a distinctive sound that sets it apart from every other mode. The characteristic note is the flat 5th (b5) — the diminished fifth that makes Locrian inherently unstable, which is what your ear latches onto and identifies as the Locrian Mode sound.
You hear it in: Björk, Radiohead (moments), extreme metal, jazz composers.
How Locrian Mode Relates to Other Scales
Locrian has both a b2 and b5 compared to Aeolian's natural 2nd and natural 5th. The b5 is the defining feature — it means the tonic chord is diminished, making Locrian almost impossible to use as a stable home base.
Parent major key: half step above root (parent major = root + 1 fret). So if you want to play A Locrian Mode, find its parent major scale root and use those major scale box positions — the notes will be correct for A Locrian Mode when you emphasize A as the tonal center.
See Locrian Mode on the interactive fretboard
Select Locrian Mode from the Full Scale dropdown. Works in all 12 keys.
Like all modes, Locrian Mode can be played in 5 interconnected box positions that cover the entire neck. Each box sits within a 4-5 fret span and uses the same interval pattern regardless of what key you're in — only the starting fret changes.
Box 1 — anchored around the root note on the low E string
Box 2 — shifts up 2-3 frets, overlaps with Box 1 at transition frets
Box 3 — middle of the neck, often the most expressive range
Box 4 — upper mid-neck, root appears at fret 12 relative to Box 1
Box 5 — just below Box 1, completes the full neck cycle
How to Practice Locrian Mode
Use Locrian sparingly — over Bm7b5 (half-diminished) chords or as a momentary color. B Locrian works naturally over Bdim or Bm7b5 in a progression. Don't try to build a solo around it as a home key.
Find a backing track in the key you want to practice — modes only reveal themselves against a chord
Start with Box 1, play it ascending and descending at 60 BPM
Deliberately land on and sustain the characteristic note (flat 5th (b5) — the diminished fifth that makes Locrian inherently unstable) — let your ear lock onto it
Connect Box 1 to Box 2, then gradually link all 5 across the neck
Use the string selector in Pentatonic Box to isolate the top 3 strings and practice lead patterns