C# Locrian Pentatonic Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C# Locrian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Locrian Pentatonic scale is an unstable and mysterious scale used to evoke tension and ambiguity. On Ukulele, its notes are C#, E, F#, G, B. 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: C#, E, F#, G, B
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5d, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-W-H-4-W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: minor seven flat five pentatonic
How to Play C# Locrian Pentatonic on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C# on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. With 5 notes, this scale fits neatly on the ukulele's short fretboard without requiring large stretches.
The C# Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 2 sharps (C#, F#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C# Locrian Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C#-F#, E-G) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in C#. Try a C#5 - G5 - B5 progression.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the C# Locrian Pentatonic 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.
The C# Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (C#, E, F#, G, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Locrian Pentatonic
The C# Locrian Pentatonic 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 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C# Locrian Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the C# Locrian Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Locrian Pentatonic on Guitar
- C# Locrian Pentatonic on Bass
- C# Locrian Pentatonic on Piano