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#, B, C#, D#, E, 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 A#m7b5, BMaj7, C#m7, D#m7, EMaj7, F#7, G#m7. 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#, B, C#, D#, E, 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
A♯m7♭5 — BMaj7 — C♯m7 — D♯m7 — EMaj7 — F♯7 — G♯m7
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 5 black keys. With several black keys involved, let the thumb naturally fall on white keys where possible. Practice hands separately at first, paying attention to smooth thumb-under transitions.
The A# Locrian scale contains 5 sharps (A#, C#, D#, F#, G#). 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: A#m7b5 - D#m7 - EMaj7 - A#m7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or A#m7b5 - BMaj7 - D#m7 - EMaj7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in avant-garde contexts.
Piano Tips
On piano, practice the A# Locrian scale hands together in contrary motion (one hand ascending, the other descending). This builds independence and strengthens your awareness of the scale's symmetry. 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#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.