fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASS GUITAR

B♭ Locrian

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

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

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

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title B♭ Locrian Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: EADG
35791215F♭ADGF♭G♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭F♭G♭B♭C♭D♭E♭F♭G♭A♭B♭C♭E♭F♭G♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭F♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭F♭G♭A♭B♭
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 B♭ Locrian scale?

The B♭ Locrian scale uses the notes B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭ (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 B♭ to get the B♭ Locrian scale.

What chords work over B♭ 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 B♭ Locrian on Bass Guitar?

On bass, scales follow the same position-pattern logic as guitar but with two-notes-per-string most often. Walking-bass-line construction draws on chord-tone-arpeggiation through the scale; see /walking-bass for the standalone surface (once it ships).

When would I use the Locrian scale?

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