Diminished mode with ♭2 and ♭5; unstable, used for color not functional tonics.
Locrian Mode
Parentage: 7th mode of the Major Scale
Interval Formula: H – W – W – H – W – W – W
Degrees: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7
Chords built on degrees: i°, ♭II, ♭III, iv, ♭V, ♭VI, ♭VII
Structure and Function
Locrian is the darkest and most unstable of the diatonic modes.
It begins on the 7th degree of the major scale and features both a flattened 2nd and a flattened 5th, removing the perfect fifth that normally stabilizes tonality.
This results in a mode that lacks a true tonal center —
it sounds tense and unresolved by design, functioning best as a passing color or to imply harmonic instability rather than a self-contained key.
Formula in B Locrian (from C Major):
B C D E F G A B
| Degree | Function | Interval | Chord | Nashville | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| : -: | : - | : - | : - | : -: | : |
| 1 | Tonic | 0 | Bdim | 1 | Unstable root |
| ♭2 | Supertonic | +1 | Cmaj | ♭2 | Harsh dissonant interval |
| ♭3 | Mediant | +3 | Dmin | ♭3 | Defines minor quality |
| 4 | Subdominant | +5 | Emin | 4 | Passing tension |
| ♭5 | Diminished 5th | +6 | Fmaj | ♭5 | Removes harmonic anchor |
| ♭6 | Submediant | +8 | Gmaj | ♭6 | Adds modal darkness |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | +10 | Amin | ♭7 | Weak descending cadence tone |
Sound and Character
- Mood: unstable, tense, and claustrophobic.
- Signature intervals: flat 2nd and flat 5th — remove tonal stability.
- Cadence: no true dominant-tonic relationship; often cycles between i° and ♭II.
- Melodic feel: dissonant, unresolved; used to suggest tension or decay.
Locrian’s diminished tonic chord (i°) makes it impractical as a tonal home — it’s the only mode that cannot form a stable major or minor triad on its tonic.
Use and Application
- Genres: avant-garde jazz, metal, progressive, experimental, and film music.
- Improvisation: used sparingly over half-diminished (m7♭5) chords, often in ii–V–i progressions in minor keys (e.g., Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am).
- Composition: effective for portraying instability, suspense, or tension before resolution.
- Guitarists and bassists: use Locrian fragments for dark chromatic riffs or diminished runs.
Common Song Examples
Pure Locrian usage is rare, but its flavor appears in dark, tension-heavy music:
| Song | Artist | Key/Mode | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| “YYZ” | Rush | B Locrian | Bass riff outlines flat 2 and flat 5 tension |
| “Army of Me” | Björk | E Locrian | Synth-bass-driven dissonant mode |
| “Heretic” | Soundgarden | F Locrian | Metal use of diminished tonic riff |
| “Giant Steps” (chord fragments) | John Coltrane | B Locrian passing | Jazz example of Locrian within harmonic flow |
| “Tension” | Tool | B Locrian | Modern metal modal use for instability |
Summary
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Parent Major Key | Starts on 7th degree |
| Tonal Center | Diminished (unstable) |
| Signature Intervals | Flat 2nd, Flat 5th |
| Emotional Color | Tense, unresolved, dark |
| Typical Harmony | i° – ♭II or i° – ♭VII |
| Typical Chords | Diminished, Half-diminished, Minor7♭5 |
| Usage | Metal, experimental jazz, cinematic tension |