C# Locrian Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
C# Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Ukulele, the notes are C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B. 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 C# Locrian are C#m7b5, DMaj7, Em7, F#m7, GMaj7, A7, Bm7. 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: C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B
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
Diatonic Chords
C♯m7♭5 — DMaj7 — Em7 — F♯m7 — GMaj7 — A7 — Bm7
How to Play C# Locrian on Ukulele
On ukulele, find C# on the open strings or 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 C# Locrian scale contains 2 sharps (C#, F#). Its relative major is E major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C# Locrian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C#-E, D-F#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the C# Locrian scale: C#m7b5 - F#m7 - GMaj7 - C#m7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or C#m7b5 - DMaj7 - F#m7 - GMaj7 for a more stepwise movement.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the C# Locrian scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound.
The C# Locrian scale contains 7 notes (C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Locrian
The C# Locrian 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 C# Locrian Further
- Harmonize the C# Locrian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Locrian on Guitar
- C# Locrian on Bass
- C# Locrian on Piano