Position 7 of 7 · Locrian Mode · Key of C

C Locrian Mode

Diminished scale

The C Locrian is the 7th mode of the C 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 C.

Notes in the C Locrian

C · C# · D# · F · F# · G# · A#

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 ScaleC Major — C Locrian shares the same notes as C Major but starts on C

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 C Locrian

The C 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 C.

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 C Locrian on a live fretboard

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

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C Locrian Mode

Notes in the C Locrian

Step Formula

Intervals

The 5 Missing Notes™ — Beyond C Locrian

Same Mode, Every Key

Hear the C Locrian on a live fretboard

DEEP DIVES