D Locrian Mode on Guitar

The D Locrian Mode is a 7-note scale (unstable, tense) built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. Its notes are D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C. Below you'll find the scale on the whole fretboard, the chords that belong to it and related scales — open it in the interactive fretboard for 3NPS, CAGED and pentatonic box patterns with playback.

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1Droot
♭2E♭Minor 2nd
♭3FMinor 3rd
4GPerfect 4th
♭5A♭Diminished 5th (tritone)
♭6B♭Minor 6th
♭7CMinor 7th

Steps: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

D Locrian Mode on the fretboard (15 frets)

D Locrian Mode – guitar fretboardEADGBEF♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1F♭3G4A♭♭5B♭♭6C♭7D1E♭♭2F♭3G4123456789101112131415

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Pink = root, purple = characteristic notes. 3NPS, CAGED and box patterns plus other tunings are in the interactive fretboard.

Chords in the scale

Modes with the same notes

Other scales from D

Locrian in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the D Locrian Mode?
The D Locrian Mode has 7 notes: D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
What intervals make up the D Locrian Mode?
Step pattern: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Intervals from the root: ♭2 (Minor 2nd), ♭3 (Minor 3rd), 4 (Perfect 4th), ♭5 (Diminished 5th (tritone)), ♭6 (Minor 6th), ♭7 (Minor 7th).
What chords are in the D Locrian Mode?
Triads: D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭, B♭, Cm. Seventh chords: Dm7♭5, E♭maj7, Fm7, Gm7, A♭maj7, B♭7, Cm7.