C Locrian Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
C Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Banjo (5-String), the notes are C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb. It sounds highly dissonant and unresolved, as its home chord is a diminished triad. While rare as a primary key, it is a crucial technical tool for jazz musicians improvising over half-diminished chords in tension-heavy passages. The diatonic chords of C Locrian are Cm7b5, DbMaj7, Ebm7, Fm7, GbMaj7, Ab7, Bbm7. Commonly used in Jazz, Metal, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include John Coltrane, Meshuggah, Dream Theater. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz ii-V-i in minor keys where the ii chord is half-diminished.
Notes: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
Cm7♭5 — D♭Maj7 — E♭m7 — Fm7 — G♭Maj7 — A♭7 — B♭m7
Musical Character
The only mode with a diminished 5th (b5) from the root, making its home chord a diminished triad. This instability means Locrian is almost never used as a key center — it is a tool for tension.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Metal, Experimental, Avant-Garde
Notable players: John Coltrane, Meshuggah, Dream Theater
How to Use the C Locrian Scale
Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz ii-V-i in minor keys where the ii chord is half-diminished.
Origin & Background
Named after the Locrians of ancient Greece. Considered 'unusable' for centuries until jazz musicians found its purpose over half-diminished chords.
How to Play C Locrian on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating C on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Locrian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The C Locrian scale contains 5 flats (Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb). Its relative major is Eb major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the C Locrian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Try these progressions with the C Locrian scale: Cm7b5 - Fm7 - GbMaj7 - Cm7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or Cm7b5 - DbMaj7 - Fm7 - GbMaj7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in avant-garde contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the C Locrian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a unstable quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Locrian is the 7th mode of the Major scale. View C Major scale
The C Locrian scale contains 7 notes (C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Locrian
The C Locrian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.