F 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

EADGBEFG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭0123456789101112

Open position

EADGBEFG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭C♭D♭E♭FG♭A♭01234

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
1Froot
2G♭ (G flat)minor second
3A♭ (A flat)minor third
4B♭ (B flat)perfect fourth
5C♭ (C flat)diminished fifth
6D♭ (D flat)minor sixth
7E♭ (E flat)minor 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 F sharp major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Fdimi°
  2. G♭II
  3. A♭miii
  4. B♭miv
  5. C♭V
  6. D♭VI
  7. E♭mvii

Other F scales

The same scale in other keys