ChordKeysChord & scale reference

F Locrian Scale

The F Locrian scale contains F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb. It uses 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb.

FGbAbBbCbDbEb

F Locrian scale chart

F Locrian scale on a piano keyboard: F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F

Sharps and flats

F Locrian has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. Its parent major scale is Gb major, which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of F# major.

Scale degrees

DegreeNoteSemitones from F
1F0
b2Gb1
b3Ab3
4Bb5
b5Cb6
b6Db8
b7Eb10

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 F 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 F Locrian.

DegreeNumeralChordNotes
1i°FdimF Ab Cb
2IIGbGb Bb Db
3iiiAbmAb Cb Eb
4ivBbmBb Db F
5VCbCb Eb Gb
6VIDbDb F Ab
7viiEbmEb Gb Bb

Other modes on F

More scales on F

Locrian scale in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F Locrian scale?

The F Locrian scale contains F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, then returns to F an octave higher.

How many flats are in F Locrian?

F Locrian has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb.

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 F Locrian scale?

The diatonic chords are Fdim, Gb, Abm, Bbm, Cb, Db, Ebm. Each is built only from notes of the F Locrian scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.