B Locrian Guitar Scale — Drop C

Guitar scale in Drop C tuning — fretboard diagram

B locrian scale — 6-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the B locrian scale on 6-string guitar with 22 frets. Notes: D, E, F, G, A, B, C.DEFGABCDEFGABCABCDEFGABCDEFGFGABCDEFGABCDCDEFGABCDEFGAGABCDEFGABCDEFCDEFGABCDEFGA1357911121315171921

B Locrian in Drop C — Notes and Intervals

The B Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Guitar, the notes are B, C, D, E, F, G, A. 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 B Locrian are Bm7b5, CMaj7, Dm7, Em7, FMaj7, G7, Am7. 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: B, C, D, E, F, G, A

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

Tuning: Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)

Diatonic Chords

Bm7♭5 — CMaj7 — Dm7 — Em7 — FMaj7 — G7 — Am7

About Drop C Tuning

Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) drops every string one whole step below Drop D, delivering a massive, brutal low-end that has defined the sound of modern metalcore, post-hardcore, and nu-metal. The low C string provides earth-shaking power chords with a single finger while maintaining familiar Drop D shapes — just two frets lower.

From System of a Down's iconic riffs to Killswitch Engage's crushing breakdowns, Drop C has become the standard tuning for heavy music that needs to sound bigger than standard Drop D. It bridges the gap between standard guitar territory and the extended range of 7-string guitars, making it accessible to players who want heavier tones without buying a new instrument.

MetalcorePost-HardcoreNu-MetalHeavy AlternativeDjent-lite

Notable artists: System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red

Best for: Modern metalcore breakdowns, heavy power chord riffs, nu-metal grooves, and aggressive rhythm playing

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Drop C tuning