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# · D · E · F# · G · A · B

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

Open Free Interactive Tool →

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