C Locrian ♮6

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C Locrian ♮6 Scale

– – – – – – –

Step pattern H – W – W – H – W+H – H – W

C Locrian ♮6 contains 7 notes: C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A, B♭. It has 4 flats: D♭, E♭, G♭, B♭. The step pattern is H–W–W–H–W+H–H–W. It is derived from C Harmonic Minor.

Locrian natural 6 is a rare, dark mode that sounds slightly less bleak than standard Locrian. The natural 6th adds a glimmer of brightness to an otherwise unstable scale.

Theory

Built as 1 - b2 - b3 - 4 - b5 - 6 - b7, this is the 2nd mode of harmonic minor. It keeps Locrian's characteristic b2 and b5 but replaces the b6 with a natural 6, making it marginally more consonant. The tonic chord is m7b5 (half-diminished). It is also known as Dorian b2 b5.

On the guitar

Play your harmonic minor patterns but establish the 2nd degree as the tonal center. Because the mode is so unstable, it works best as a passing texture rather than a sustained tonality. Focus on using it over the ii chord (m7b5) in minor ii-V-i progressions.

Piano