Eb Locrian Mode
Notes in the Eb Locrian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Gb | 369.994 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭5 | Diminished 5th | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Eb | E |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | E | Gb |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Gb | Ab |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Ab | A |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | Eb diminished | diminished |
| ♭2 | E | E | major |
| ♭3 | Gb | Gb minor | minor |
| 4 | Ab | Ab minor | minor |
| ♭5 | A | A | major |
| ♭6 | B | B | major |
| ♭7 | Db | Db minor | minor |
Key Signature
3 ♭ — The Eb key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab.
Eb Locrian Mode in Practice
The Eb Locrian Mode uses the key signature of 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab). Eb major has three flats and a rich, full sound well suited to brass instruments. It is widely used in jazz, classical music, and is the home key for Eb instruments. On guitar, Eb positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Locrian mode is the darkest and most dissonant of all modes, featuring a flat 2nd and flat 5th. It is rarely used melodically but appears in jazz as the basis for half-diminished harmony.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| Gb | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Eb Locrian Mode
Eb is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Eb concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Eb sound a major sixth lower.