Locrian

The Locrian mode is a musical mode that is derived from the natural minor scale. It has a dissonant and unstable character and is often used in a variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and avant-garde.

The Locrian mode is constructed using the following pattern of whole and half steps: half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole. This pattern is similar to that of the natural minor scale, with the exception of the first scale degree, which is lowered by a half step.

The Locrian mode is characterized by its diminished tonality, which is created by the combination of the minor third and the diminished fifth intervals. These intervals give the Locrian mode its dissonant and unstable character and make it a less commonly used mode in traditional music. However, it has been used in various musical styles as a way to create tension and dissonance.

To use the Locrian mode in your music, you can start by choosing a natural minor scale and then altering the pattern of whole and half steps to create the Locrian mode. You can then use this mode as the foundation for your melodies and harmonies, using the diminished tonality to create a dissonant and unstable sound.

The Locrian mode is a less commonly used mode.

Example Diagram

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
B - C - D - E - F - G - A - B
  H   W   W   H   W   W   W

The "Whole" (W) and "Half" (H) labels represent the intervals between the notes of the scale. A whole step is equal to two half steps, and a half step is equal to one piano key (black or white). They are also known as tones and semitones.

To build the Locrian mode starting from the key of C, you would use the following notes: C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, and B♭. The Locrian mode is a minor scale.

Locrian mode in C:

1 - 2  - 3  - 4 - 5  - 6  - 7  - 8
C - D♭ - E♭ - F - G♭ - A♭ - B♭ - C
  H   W   W   H   W   W   W

Examples

Here are a few examples of music that uses the Locrian mode:

• "The Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky: This classical piece is written in the Locrian mode and has a dissonant and unstable character.
• "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis: This jazz ballad is written in the Locrian mode and has a introspective and melancholic character.
• "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden: This rock ballad is written in the Locrian mode and has a moody and introspective character.
• "Morgen" by Richard Strauss: This classical piece is written in the Locrian mode and has a introspective and melancholic character.
• "Echoes" by Pink Floyd: This rock ballad is written in the Locrian mode and has a introspective and melancholic character.

These are just a few examples of the many musical styles and genres that make use of the Locrian mode. By listening to these and other examples of music that use the Locrian mode, you can get a sense of the character and mood of this mode and how it is used in a variety of musical contexts.