This Round Is Done!

When you think of the modes of a scale, you usually think of the ones everyone learns for common song forms. Aeolian, Mixolydian, Dorian, and all their friends. But Locrian is the bastard step child of the modes. It's usually off on its own, with only odd sounding chords with weird names to support it.

In Round 6 we'll explore Locrian. Your task is to come up with something that uses the Locrian mode, and if you can maybe even the Super Locrian (or Altered Scale). The goal is to stretch your musical tastes to something you may not really know how to use. To find a use for this odd dangling thumb of a mode.

To get you started, here's some basic information about the Locrian and Super Locrian scales.

Locrian

• It is the 7th mode, so play a C scale from B and you've got it.
• It's formula is 1-b2-b3-4-b5-b6-b7 or H-W-W-H-W-W-W if you like steps.
• It is considered a minor scale.
• The important note is the b5.
• It works over diminished and -7b5 (half-diminished) chords.

Common chord progressions (in C) would be:

• |Bdim : D|
• |B-7b5 : E7|
• |B-7b5 : G7|
• |B-7b5 : E7(b9) : Am9|

These are of course just suggestions to get you to hear the mode. Don't take these literally, and instead create your own progressions that could work.

Super Locrian

This mode fits with the melodic minor scale and is found most commonly in Jazz. While the Locrian mode is found in classical harmony, but not often used, the Super Locrian is used as it fits over many of the altered chords found in Jazz.

Here's what makes up a Super Locrian scale:

• It's 7th mode of the melodic minor scale.
• It has a formula of 1-b2-b3-3-b5-b6-b7, or H-W-H-W-W-W-W.
• You can also think of it as 1-b9-#9-3-b5-#5-b7 which shows you why it's so great for altered chords like A13b5#9 (my favorite).
• It will work over any altered chords found in minor chord progressions.

With this scale you'll want to find some scale patterns and practice it, and then work up a few chord progressions that it might fit over. I'll have some chord progressions for this round in shed posts during the week.

Don't Be So Literal

Remember, the goal is to learn these two scales and try to use one of them in a song. It can be slow, fast, in any key, use weird progressions, and even switch between the two. Use your ear and sense of style to make something awesome.

Good luck!