The Aeolian b5 Scale (Locrian #2) for Guitar
The Aeolian b5 scale is natural minor with the fifth lowered: 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7. It is the sixth mode of the melodic minor scale, which is why some players call it Locrian #2 or the half-diminished scale.
That flat five makes the tonic chord a half-diminished one, so the scale is a natural fit for m7b5 chords. Choose a key below to get the notes, the fretboard patterns and a player.
C Aeolian b5 Scale: box pattern, position 1
Structure
How the aeolian b5 scale is built:
The aeolian b5 scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-H-W-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 6 of the Melodic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Locrian #2 and Half-Diminished Scale.
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
