A Song That Actually Uses Locrian

Summary

In this video, the creator explores the use of the Locrian mode in popular music, focusing on its unique characteristics and challenges. The Locrian mode, the seventh mode of the major scale, is often seen as dissonant due to its diminished fifth. The video highlights examples, such as Björk's 'Army of Me,' which uses Locrian creatively, and 'Juice Box' by The Strokes, where elements of the mode are present but not fully embraced. The video also touches on other potential examples and the rarity of Locrian in mainstream songs, encouraging viewers to share their own findings.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the major scale and is considered the most unusual and difficult to use musically.
• 😀 The Locrian mode has a diminished fifth, which makes it sound dissonant and directionless, unlike other modes that have a perfect fifth.
• 😀 Diminished chords, which are the root chords of the Locrian mode, are unstable and tend to resolve to another chord, further enhancing the unresolved feel of Locrian.
• 😀 One of the challenges of using the Locrian mode in popular music is avoiding the dissonant flat fifth to make the melody sound more musical.
• 😀 In *Army of Me* by Björk, the song primarily uses C Locrian but avoids the flat fifth in the vocal melody, making it more palatable while retaining some of the mode's unique sound.
• 😀 Although *Army of Me* begins with C Locrian, the chorus introduces a shift in harmony, moving away from Locrian and using a D natural note, making the chorus not entirely in Locrian.
• 😀 The use of Locrian in *Army of Me* was influential enough for it to be considered one of the best examples of Locrian in pop music, despite the chorus shift.
• 😀 *Juice Box* by The Strokes incorporates a Locrian-like bassline but includes the natural fifth and second degrees, which weakens its connection to the Locrian mode.
• 😀 In *Juice Box*, the use of the natural fifth in the guitar and vocals clashes with the Locrian bassline, preventing the song from being fully considered a Locrian piece.
• 😀 The intro to *Seek and Destroy* by Metallica briefly hints at the Locrian mode with a diminished fifth, but the subsequent use of natural fifths and other notes shifts the song away from being purely Locrian.

Q & A

What is the Locrian mode, and why is it considered unique compared to the other modes of the major scale?

The Locrian mode is the seventh mode of the major scale and is considered unique because it features a diminished fifth (flat 5), which makes it sound unstable and dissonant compared to the other modes. The lack of a perfect fifth, which is crucial in establishing harmony, makes the Locrian mode feel directionless and unresolved.

Why does the Locrian mode sound dissonant and difficult to use musically?

The Locrian mode sounds dissonant because it contains a diminished fifth, which is less harmonious than the perfect fifth found in other modes. The diminished fifth creates tension, making it hard to establish a sense of resolution or stability, which is why it is considered challenging to use in melodies or harmonies.

What is the root chord of the Locrian mode, and why is it considered unstable?

The root chord of the Locrian mode is a diminished chord, which is inherently unstable. Diminished chords have a tense, unresolved sound and typically want to resolve to another chord, further contributing to the Locrian mode's sense of instability.

How does 'Army of Me' by Björk use the Locrian mode?

'Army of Me' by Björk primarily uses the C Locrian mode in its bassline. The bassline features a repeating pattern that centers around C, with the key characteristic of the flat fifth (G flat) present. Although the vocals avoid the most dissonant notes of the Locrian mode, the combination of the bass and melody creates a sense of the Locrian sound.

Why can 'Army of Me' be considered the best example of the Locrian mode in pop music, despite some divergences?

'Army of Me' is considered the best example of the Locrian mode in pop music because the bassline consistently features the flat fifth, and the vocal melody avoids the dissonant flat fifth, allowing the song to still capture the essence of the Locrian mode. While the chorus diverges from Locrian, the song's overall use of the mode is significant.

Why is 'Juice Box' by The Strokes not a pure example of the Locrian mode?

'Juice Box' by The Strokes features a bassline that initially suggests the Locrian mode with its flat fifth and flat second. However, the melody and guitar parts include natural fifths and seconds, which conflict with the Locrian sound. As a result, while the Locrian mode is an element of the song, it is not the dominant feature.

What is the role of the flat fifth and flat second in the Locrian mode, and how do they affect the sound of a song?

The flat fifth and flat second are crucial defining features of the Locrian mode. The flat fifth creates dissonance, while the flat second adds an additional layer of tension. These intervals contribute to the unstable and unresolved feeling of the Locrian mode, making it difficult to create harmonious or stable melodies.

How does Metallica’s 'Seek and Destroy' relate to the Locrian mode, and why isn’t it a pure Locrian example?

'Seek and Destroy' by Metallica features a part that could be interpreted as using the Locrian mode, with its flat fifth and flat second. However, the use of a natural fifth in the following bar changes the overall tonality, making it clear that the song isn't truly in Locrian. The presence of the natural fifth shifts the mode to something closer to Phrygian.

What is the significance of diminished chords in the context of the Locrian mode?

Diminished chords play a significant role in the Locrian mode because they serve as the root chord of the mode. These chords create instability and a sense of tension, making it difficult to establish a feeling of rest or resolution. The diminished fifth in the Locrian mode also contributes to the overall dissonant sound.

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