The Locrian mode on bass:
notes, formula and position

The Locrian mode has 7 notes: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. In A, that gives A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F and G. The only mode of the major scale with a diminished fifth: unstable and rarely played on its own, but it is the scale of the half-diminished chord (m7♭5).

Also called: Locrian, Locrian scale.

Formula and notes

1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: half step – whole step – whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – whole step. In A:

Where the Locrian mode comes from

It is the 7th mode of the major scale: you play the notes of the major scale starting from its 7th degree. The Locrian mode in A therefore has the same notes as B♭ major. What changes is the home note: the root A, the note your line keeps coming back to.

One position on the neck

The Locrian mode in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-5--7--8-|
D|-5--7--8-|
A|-5--6--8-|
E|-5--6--8-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the Locrian mode

7th mode. The darkest, with ♭5. Unstable due to ♭5. Used over m7♭5 chords.

You mostly hear it in progressive metal and jazz.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the Locrian mode fits Am7♭5 and Aø. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the Locrian mode by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The Phrygian mode: 5 instead of ♭5.
• The Locrian ♮6 mode: 6 instead of ♭6.
• The Locrian ♮2 mode: 2 instead of ♭2.
• The altered scale: ♭4 instead of 4.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions