C sharp 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

EADGBEEF♯GABC♯DEABC♯DEF♯GADEF♯GABC♯DGABC♯DEF♯GBC♯DEF♯GABEF♯GABC♯DE0123456789101112

Position from fret 8

EADGBEC♯DEF♯GABC♯DEF♯GGABC♯DE89101112

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
1C♯ (C sharp)root
2Dminor second
3Eminor third
4F♯ (F sharp)perfect fourth
5Gdiminished fifth
6Aminor sixth
7Bminor 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 D major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. C♯dimi°
  2. DII
  3. Emiii
  4. F♯miv
  5. GV
  6. AVI
  7. Bmvii

Other C♯ scales

The same scale in other keys