Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ locrian scale on guitar
A♭ locrian contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭, F♭, and G♭. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on string 6 fret 4, string 4 fret 6, and string 1 fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ locrian scale on guitar?
A♭ locrian in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2 | E♭♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2, 3 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ locrian in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to B♭♭ on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4, 5 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 5 | D♭, E♭♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ locrian in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to C♭ on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the D string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 7 | D♭, E♭♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6, 7 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A♭ locrian in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C♭ on the low E string at fret 7 up to E♭♭ on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | F♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9 | E♭♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 10 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A♭ locrian in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to F♭ on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | D♭, E♭♭, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | C♭, D♭, E♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | D♭, E♭♭, F♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ locrian is the seventh mode of B♭♭ major, built as 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. Its half-step pattern is H, W, W, H, W, W, W. Lower the fifth of A♭ phrygian to get the ♭5. The tonic chord is A♭ minor 7th flat 5th.
When to use it
A♭ locrian fits A♭ minor 7th flat 5th and A♭ diminished chords. Use it over half-diminished progressions in jazz, metal riffs, and dark ambient lines. Pair with A♭ minor 7th flat 5th or A♭ diminished.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It places the root on string 6 fret 4 and covers frets 0–3, setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ locrian?
A♭ locrian contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭♭, F♭, and G♭. The intervals are 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. Its half-step pattern is H, W, W, H, W, W, W. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords does A♭ locrian fit?
A♭ locrian fits A♭ minor 7th flat 5th and A♭ diminished chords. The tonic chord is A♭ minor 7th flat 5th. Use it over half-diminished progressions.
How does A♭ locrian differ from A♭ phrygian?
A♭ locrian lowers the fifth of A♭ phrygian from E♭ to E♭♭. This creates the ♭5 interval that defines the locrian sound. The rest of the notes are identical.