Mode guide
Locrian Mode: formula, chords, and sound
Locrian is a minor mode with a flattened second and fifth. Learn its formula, hear B Locrian, and focus on the diminished B–F fifth.
The short answer
Locrian Mode is minor with an unstable tonic chord
Locrian differs from Phrygian by one extra change: its fifth is diminished. That prevents the tonic triad from being an ordinary minor chord.
- Example tonic
- B
- Home chord
- B diminished
- Characteristic degree
- diminished 5th
01
Hear B Locrian
F above B forms a diminished fifth, so Bdim does not sound fully settled. The nearby C chord also emphasizes the flattened second. The characteristic note in this example is F.
B Locrian scale
B – C – D – E – F – G – A – B
Sound loads when you first play.
02
Diatonic triads
These seven chords use only notes from the mode. The first chord is the tonal home.
| 1 | ♭2 | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am |
03
Practice loop: i°–♭II–i°
This is a listening exercise, not a claim about the most common progression. Keep returning your ear to B diminished.
Bdim – C – Bdim
i°–♭II–i° in B Locrian.
Sound loads when you first play.
How to make the mode sound clear
- Play B and F together before adding D.
- Keep B in the bass while moving between Bdim and C.
- Compare F with F♯ to hear Locrian move toward Phrygian.