D Locrian Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
D Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Ukulele, the notes are D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C. 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 D Locrian are Dm7b5, EbMaj7, Fm7, Gm7, AbMaj7, Bb7, Cm7. 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: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
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
Dm7♭5 — E♭Maj7 — Fm7 — Gm7 — A♭Maj7 — B♭7 — Cm7
How to Play D Locrian on Ukulele
On ukulele, find D 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 D Locrian scale contains 3 flats (Eb, Ab, Bb). Its relative major is F major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Locrian scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Try these progressions with the D Locrian scale: Dm7b5 - Gm7 - AbMaj7 - Dm7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or Dm7b5 - EbMaj7 - Gm7 - AbMaj7 for a more stepwise movement.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the D 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 D Locrian scale contains 7 notes (D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Locrian
The D 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 D Locrian Further
- Harmonize the D Locrian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Locrian on Guitar
- D Locrian on Bass
- D Locrian on Piano