E Minor Locrian Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
E Minor Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Minor Locrian scale provides a smoother approach to half-diminished chord improvisation by raising the second degree of standard Locrian. On Piano, its notes are E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D. Jazz musicians rely on its natural second for elegant voice leading over m7b5 chords in minor ii-V-i progressions, where pure Locrian would sound too angular. Commonly used in Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion, Progressive. Notable players include John Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. The natural 2nd provides smoother voice leading than standard Locrian while retaining the essential b5. Preferred by jazz musicians for minor ii-V-i progressions.
Notes: E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
Locrian with a raised 2nd degree, sharing its lower tetrachord with Aeolian (natural minor) and its upper tetrachord with Locrian. This hybrid provides a smoother, more usable approach to half-diminished chord improvisation than pure Locrian.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion, Progressive
Notable players: John Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Kurt Rosenwinkel
How to Use the E Minor Locrian Scale
Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. The natural 2nd provides smoother voice leading than standard Locrian while retaining the essential b5. Preferred by jazz musicians for minor ii-V-i progressions.
Origin & Background
Functionally equivalent to Locrian #2 (the 6th mode of melodic minor). Jazz improvisers developed this as a practical alternative to standard Locrian, whose b2 created awkward voice leading over half-diminished chords. The natural 2nd degree smooths out the melodic contour while preserving the characteristic b5.
How to Play E Minor Locrian on Piano
On piano, the E Minor Locrian scale uses 2 black keys. Start with your thumb on E and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The E Minor Locrian scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Begin by playing the E Minor Locrian scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (E-G, F#-A) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on E to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Locrian scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in post-bop contexts.
Piano Tips
On piano, practice the E Minor 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 dark quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Minor Locrian is the 6th mode of the Melodic Minor scale (Locrian #2). View E Melodic minor scale
The E Minor Locrian scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Piano. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.