A Locrian Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
A Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Piano, the notes are A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G. 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 A Locrian are Am7b5, BbMaj7, Cm7, Dm7, EbMaj7, F7, Gm7. 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: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
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
Am7♭5 — B♭Maj7 — Cm7 — Dm7 — E♭Maj7 — F7 — Gm7
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 A 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 A Locrian on Piano
On piano, the A Locrian scale uses 2 black keys. Start with your thumb on A and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The A Locrian scale contains 2 flats (Bb, Eb). Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A 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 A Locrian scale: Am7b5 - Dm7 - EbMaj7 - Am7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or Am7b5 - BbMaj7 - Dm7 - EbMaj7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in experimental contexts.
Piano Tips
At the piano, try voicing the A Locrian scale in the left hand as blocked intervals (thirds or sixths) while the right hand plays the melody. This develops your harmonic ear and comping skills simultaneously. 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 A Major scale
The A Locrian scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.