Position 7 of 7 · Locrian Mode · Key of A♭

A♭ Locrian Mode

Diminished scale

The A♭ Locrian is the 7th mode of the Ab Major scale. It has a extremely dark, unstable, dissonant, restless tension character. On guitar it appears at Position 7 in the fretboard pattern — root note Ab.

Notes in the A♭ Locrian

Ab · A · B · Db · D · E · Gb

Step Formula

W = Whole step (2 frets) · H = Half step (1 fret)

H W W H W W W

Intervals

1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7

Sound CharacterExtremely dark, unstable, dissonant, restless tension

Parent Major ScaleAb Major — A♭ Locrian shares the same notes as Ab Major but starts on Ab

Best Used InMetal, Death Metal, Avant-Garde Jazz, Film Horror Scores

Famous ExamplesYYZ (Rush intro), death metal, extreme jazz tension

Key insight: The ♭5 (diminished fifth) is Locrian's defining feature — it makes the tonic chord half-diminished, always wanting to resolve.

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A♭ Locrian

The A♭ Locrian is one of 7 diatonic modes in the Dead Sea Scales system. Using the 5 Missing Notes™ framework, each mode generates 7 extended variations — giving you access to all 42 total modes in any key including A♭.

Same Mode, Every Key

The Locrian pattern is identical in every key — the formula never changes. Explore the same mode in other keys:

Hear the A♭ Locrian on a live fretboard

Select key A♭ · Mode Locrian · Play notes with audio · See all 42 exotic variations

Open Free Interactive Tool →

A♭ Locrian Mode

Notes in the A♭ Locrian

Step Formula

Intervals

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond A♭ Locrian

Same Mode, Every Key

Hear the A♭ Locrian on a live fretboard

DEEP DIVES