Locrian

The Locrian mode is like the Phrygian mode with a flatted (diminished) fifth step. It is common in the heaviest forms of modern metal. It contains the tones of the diminished (and minor seven flat five) chord. The notes, tones, and intervallic structure are shown below, based on E.

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E Locrian, patterns 1 – 5

The five positional patterns of the Locrian mode are shown below. The pentatonic boxes must be altered to form a “pentatonic ♭5” scale to conform to the Locrian mode’s diminished fifths. This is shown in solid dots with added tones ♭2 and ♭6 shown in grey dots. Taken together, they form the full diatonic Locrian mode.

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Fingering: Pattern 1 is in open (first) position. Pattern 2 is in third position (second for strings 3 and 4). Pattern 3 is in fifth position. Pattern 4 is in seventh position (eighth for strings 1 and 2). Pattern 5 is in tenth position (stretch back a fret for string 3).

The astute guitarist may notice that E Locrian uses the patterns of F major/D minor (but with roots on E). Nevertheless, it is best to learn each mode as a scale in its own right, with the “superimposed” pentatonic and anchor chords.

The anchor chords shown are m7♭5 types.

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* Pattern is incomplete; include B♭ either on string 2, fret 23, or string 1, fret 18.

Other tonalities

Here is the A Locrian mode along with Am anchor chords. Shift this into other keys as well.

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Three notes per string

You should already know the diatonic three-note-per-string patterns and sequence (pages 28 and 32), so all you really need here is the correct starting point. The shape shown on page 32 as “pattern 7” becomes pattern 1 for Locrian. Shift it to the sixth string root. In this case, to play G Locrian, start with this pattern on G at the third fret and continue from there.

G Locrian

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continue with page 32 patterns 3, 4, 5, and 6 as 4, 5, 6, and 7 (up one fret)...