Explore scales · Guitar
A locrian scale on guitar
A locrian contains A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, and G. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 with roots on string 6 fret 5, string 3 fret 2, and string 1 fret 5.
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 1 to fret 4, 13 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A locrian in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A locrian in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 17 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 8 | D, E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A locrian in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10, 11 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
A locrian in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 13 | D, E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 13 | A, B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 13 | 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 5 and covers frets 1–4, 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.
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.