Locrian Mode (Emin7b5, Bb Maj7b5/E)

The Locrian mode is built in the 7^th note of a major scale. E Locrian would have the same notes as F major scale ( F G A Bb C D E) because E is the &th scale degree of F. Therefore, E Locrian is the notes of major beginning on the note E : E F G A Bb C D. An understanding of an intervallic relationship between these notes is necessary in order to understand the character of the locrian scale. To do that we must compare these notes to the major scale. If we compare E Locrian to the notes of Emajor, we have

E Major

E Locrian

Now you can see that the differences are that the 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th degrees are flat (lowered ½ step) in the locrian scale. By numbering the degrees we get a scale formula we can use which will be consistent with every locrian scale in every key.

Locrian

You can see by this scale’s interval content that the chords possible from locrian are minor chord characters : Emin7b5 ( 1 b3 b5 b7) and Emin11 (1 b3 b7 11). These are just few possibilities that we can create from the interval. The champion for locrian chord is no doubt minor 7(b5) chord.

To me, I simply know that whenever I play E Locrian, I actually play F Major start from E note.