B Locrian Pentatonic Cavaquinho Scale
Cavaquinho scale in Standard tuning — fretboard diagram
B Locrian Pentatonic in Standard — Notes and Intervals
The B Locrian Pentatonic scale is an unstable and mysterious scale used to evoke tension and ambiguity. On Cavaquinho, its notes are B, D, E, F, A. It is often found in experimental music and certain Indian Ragas, providing a dissonant, outside sound that is perfect for dark, avant-garde, or high-tension compositions. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Experimental, Progressive. Notable players include John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz solos over ii chords in minor ii-V-i progressions.
Notes: B, D, E, F, A
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5d, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-W-H-4-W
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Standard (D-B-G-D)
Also known as: minor seven flat five pentatonic