A Locrian mode on guitar

The Locrian mode, with its minor second and flat fifth, is the most unstable mode. It is mostly used over half-diminished chords, in jazz and metal.

On the whole neck

EADGBEFGAB♭CDE♭AB♭CDE♭FGADE♭FGAB♭CDGAB♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGAB♭FGAB♭CDE♭0123456789101112

Position from fret 4

EADGBEAB♭CDE♭FGAB♭CDE♭E♭FGAB♭C45678

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Aroot
2B♭ (B flat)minor second
3Cminor third
4Dperfect fourth
5E♭ (E flat)diminished fifth
6Fminor sixth
7Gminor seventh

Steps between notes: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the B flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Adimi°
  2. B♭II
  3. Cmiii
  4. Dmiv
  5. E♭V
  6. FVI
  7. Gmvii

Other A scales

The same scale in other keys