B♭ Locrian Scale (Bb)
The Bb Locrian scale contains Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab. It uses 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb. It uses the same piano keys as A# Locrian, spelled A# – B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# (5 sharps).
Bb Locrian scale chart
Sharps and flats
Bb Locrian has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb. Its parent major scale is Cb major (the same keys as B major), which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of B major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Bb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | 0 |
| b2 | Cb | 1 |
| b3 | Db | 3 |
| 4 | Eb | 5 |
| b5 | Fb | 6 |
| b6 | Gb | 8 |
| b7 | Ab | 10 |
Step pattern
The Locrian scale is built from the pattern H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Bb Locrian
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Bb Locrian.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i° | Bbdim | Bb Db Fb |
| 2 | II | Cb | Cb Eb Gb |
| 3 | iii | Dbm | Db Fb Ab |
| 4 | iv | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 5 | V | Fb | Fb Ab Cb |
| 6 | VI | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| 7 | vii | Abm | Ab Cb Eb |
Other modes on Bb
More scales on Bb
Locrian scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Bb Locrian scale?
The Bb Locrian scale contains Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, then returns to Bb an octave higher.
How many flats are in Bb Locrian?
Bb Locrian has 7 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb.
What is the step pattern of the Locrian scale?
The Locrian scale follows the whole/half step pattern H – W – W – H – W – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Bb Locrian scale?
The diatonic chords are Bbdim, Cb, Dbm, Ebm, Fb, Gb, Abm. Each is built only from notes of the Bb Locrian scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.