B Locrian
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Bass, the notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, A. 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 B Locrian are Bm7b5, CMaj7, Dm7, Em7, FMaj7, G7, Am7. 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: B, C, D, E, F, G, A
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
Bm7b5 — CMaj7 — Dm7 — Em7 — FMaj7 — G7 — Am7
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 B 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.
Related Scales
Locrian is the 7th mode of the Major scale. View B Major scale
The B Locrian scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D, E, F, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.