fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON ALTO SAXOPHONE

D♯ Locrian

Diminished tonic. Rare in practice; theoretical more than functional.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title D♯ Locrian
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title D♯ Locrian
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a major 6th below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
D♯8ve8vefFfFDDE♭E♭FFbisbisG♯G♯C♯C♯BBB♭B♭EECCB♭B♭F♯F♯E♭E♭CC
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D♯ Locrian scale?

The D♯ Locrian scale uses the notes D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Locrian scale formula?

The Locrian scale follows the interval pattern H W W H W W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D♯ to get the D♯ Locrian scale.

What chords work over D♯ Locrian?

Locrian works over m7♭5 (half-diminished) chords — the ii of a minor ii–V–i. Locrian ♮6 is often a better fit.

How do I finger D♯ Locrian on Alto Saxophone?

On saxophone, scales train fingering + the altissimo register. Practice the entire range — low Bb through high F (or higher with altissimo fingerings) — at each scale.

When would I use the Locrian scale?

Diminished tonic. Rare in practice; theoretical more than functional.