Scales reference
Locrian Mode
Locrian is the seventh mode of the major scale. Its lowered second and diminished fifth make it structurally distinct from the other minor-quality modes.
Developing reference
Overview
Locrian combines a minor third with a diminished fifth above the tonic. As a result, its diatonic tonic triad is diminished rather than major or minor, making sustained tonal-centre treatment more challenging.
Construction
Locrian begins on the seventh degree of its relative parent major scale. In parallel comparison, it resembles natural minor with lowered second and fifth degrees.
Characteristics
The semitone above the tonic and tritone to the diminished fifth create concentrated tension. Establishing the tonic often relies on repetition, pedal tones, melodic emphasis, or carefully chosen harmony.
Applications
Locrian is useful for understanding the final rotation of the major-scale system, exploring diminished-tonic sonorities, and comparing how altered second and fifth degrees reshape minor modal material.