B Locrian Major Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
What chords fit over B Locrian Major?
Open B Locrian Major HarmonizerB Locrian Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Locrian Major scale is a 20th-century hybrid that combines the stability of a major third with the dissonance of a Locrian base. On Ukulele, it contains the notes B, C#, D#, E, F, G, A. It was used by experimental composers to create a sound that is both familiar and alien. Commonly used in Experimental, Contemporary Classical, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Ligeti. Use in experimental composition over polytonal or atonal passages. A tool for creating cognitive dissonance.
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F, G, A
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-H-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: arabian
Musical Character
A major 3rd within a Locrian framework — the contradiction creates a sound that is both familiar (major) and alien (b2, b5) simultaneously.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Experimental, Contemporary Classical, Avant-Garde
Notable players: Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Ligeti
How to Use the B Locrian Major Scale
Use in experimental composition over polytonal or atonal passages. A tool for creating cognitive dissonance.
Origin & Background
A 20th-century synthetic scale used by experimental composers to create sounds that defy tonal expectations.
How to Play B Locrian Major on Ukulele
On ukulele, find B on the fret 2 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The B Locrian Major scale contains 2 sharps (C#, D#). Its relative major is D# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the B Locrian Major 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.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Locrian Major scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in contemporary classical contexts.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the B Locrian Major scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know. Aim for a alien quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The B Locrian Major scale contains 7 notes (B, C#, D#, E, F, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Locrian Major
The B Locrian Major scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore B Locrian Major Further
- Harmonize the B Locrian Major scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- B Locrian Major on Guitar
- B Locrian Major on Bass
- B Locrian Major on Piano