Locrian · E · Piano
The E Locrian scale is E F G A B♭ C D — formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7, step pattern H–W–W–H–W–W–W. Use it over Em7♭5: it is the scale for half-diminished (m7♭5) chords — the iiø7 in a minor ii–V–i. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | unison (0 semitones) | H |
| ♭2 | F | minor 2nd (1 semitones) | W |
| ♭3 | G | minor 3rd (3 semitones) | W |
| 4 | A | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | H |
| ♭5 | B♭ | tritone (6 semitones) | W |
| ♭6 | C | minor 6th (8 semitones) | W |
| ♭7 | D | minor 7th (10 semitones) | W |
Chord it implies: Em7♭5 (E – G – B♭ – D). Use it for: half-diminished (m7♭5) chords — the iiø7 in a minor ii–V–i.
Common questions
E F G A B♭ C D. As scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7. It has 7 notes.
E Locrian fits Em7♭5 and, more generally, half-diminished (m7♭5) chords — the iiø7 in a minor ii–V–i.
1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 — the step pattern from the root is H W W H W W W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play E F G A B♭ C D E ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Locrian pages: Locrian hub · practise it in context: ii–V–I trainer · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from E