C♯ Locrian Scale (C#)
The C# Locrian scale contains C# – D – E – F# – G – A – B. It uses 2 sharps: F# and C#.
C# Locrian scale chart
Sharps and flats
C# Locrian has 2 sharps: F# and C#. Its parent major scale is D major, which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of D major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C# |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | 0 |
| b2 | D | 1 |
| b3 | E | 3 |
| 4 | F# | 5 |
| b5 | G | 6 |
| b6 | A | 8 |
| b7 | B | 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° | C#dim | C# E G |
| 2 | II | D | D F# A |
| 3 | iii | Em | E G B |
| 4 | iv | F#m | F# A C# |
| 5 | V | G | G B D |
| 6 | VI | A | A C# E |
| 7 | vii | Bm | B D 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#, D, E, F#, G, A, B, then returns to C# an octave higher.
How many sharps are in C# Locrian?
C# Locrian has 2 sharps: F# and C#.
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 C#dim, D, Em, F#m, G, A, Bm. 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.