Explore scales · Guitar
B♭ locrian scale on guitar
B♭ locrian contains B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, and A♭. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on string 6 fret 6, string 3 fret 3, and string 1 fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ locrian scale on guitar?
B♭ locrian in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 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 A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B♭ locrian in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 13 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
B♭ locrian in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 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 6 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 7 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
B♭ locrian in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
B♭ locrian in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 15 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 B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
B♭ locrian in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ locrian is the seventh mode of C♭ 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 B♭ phrygian to get the ♭5. The tonic chord is B♭ minor 7th flat 5th.
When to use it
B♭ locrian fits B♭ minor 7th flat 5th and B♭ diminished chords. Use it over half-diminished progressions in jazz, metal riffs, and dark ambient lines. Pair with B♭ minor 7th flat 5th or B♭ diminished.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It places the root on string 6 fret 6 and covers frets 0–3, setting up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ locrian?
B♭ locrian contains B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, and A♭. 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 A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords does B♭ locrian fit?
B♭ locrian fits B♭ minor 7th flat 5th and B♭ diminished chords. The tonic chord is B♭ minor 7th flat 5th. Use it over half-diminished progressions.
How does B♭ locrian differ from B♭ phrygian?
B♭ locrian lowers the fifth of B♭ phrygian from F to F♭. This creates the ♭5 interval that defines the locrian sound. The rest of the notes are identical.