C Locrian Scale
The C Locrian scale contains C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb. It uses 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb.
C Locrian scale chart
Sharps and flats
C Locrian has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. Its parent major scale is Db major, which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of C# major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 0 |
| b2 | Db | 1 |
| b3 | Eb | 3 |
| 4 | F | 5 |
| b5 | Gb | 6 |
| b6 | Ab | 8 |
| b7 | Bb | 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 C 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 C Locrian.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i° | Cdim | C Eb Gb |
| 2 | II | Db | Db F Ab |
| 3 | iii | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 4 | iv | Fm | F Ab C |
| 5 | V | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| 6 | VI | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 7 | vii | Bbm | Bb Db F |
Other modes on C
More scales on C
Locrian scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Locrian scale?
The C Locrian scale contains C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, then returns to C an octave higher.
How many flats are in C Locrian?
C Locrian has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb.
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 C Locrian scale?
The diatonic chords are Cdim, Db, Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm. Each is built only from notes of the C Locrian scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.