Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
locrian
adjective
/ˈloʊ.kri.ən/
Definition
A musical mode originating from the seventh scale degree of the major scale, characterized by a minor second, a diminished fifth, and a minor sixth.
Examples
- The locrian mode can be used to create haunting melodies.
- Composers like Bartók and Ligeti have incorporated locrian elements in their works.
- Many jazz musicians explore locrian sounds for improvisation.
Meaning
In music theory, locrian refers to a specific scale that has a unique pattern of whole and half steps, often giving it a tense and unstable quality.
Synonyms
- minor mode
- seventh mode
- diminished scale
