Explore scales · Bass
F locrian scale on bass guitar
F locrian contains F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, and E♭. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 1 for a five-fret shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the F locrian scale on bass?
F locrian in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 12 notes across 4 strings, from F on the E string at fret 1 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the E string at fret 1 and the D string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1, 2, 4 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F locrian in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
F locrian in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 8, 9 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–11
F locrian in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 11, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 10, 11 | F, G♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F locrian in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the E string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
F locrian is the seventh mode of A♭ major, sharing its key signature of four flats. Lower the fifth of F phrygian by one semitone to get the diminished fifth. The scale contains a tritone between F and C♭, but no leading tone.
When to use it
F locrian fits F minor 7th flat 5th and F diminished chords. Use it over half-diminished progressions in A♭ major, especially in jazz and metal. The ♭5 creates tension that resolves to F♯ major or A♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 1, keeping the hand low and the shape compact.
Common questions
What notes are in F locrian?
F locrian contains F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, and E♭. The scale degrees are 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, and ♭7. It has four flats in its key signature.
Which chords does F locrian fit?
F locrian fits F minor 7th flat 5th and F diminished chords. These chords occur as the seventh degree in A♭ major. The scale's ♭5 matches the chord's diminished fifth.
How does F locrian differ from F phrygian?
F locrian differs from F phrygian by one note: the fifth is C♭ instead of C. This creates a diminished fifth instead of a perfect fifth. The rest of the notes are identical.