STRINGSCALES

B♭ locrian #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

D string: Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

High E string: Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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Bb locrian #2

The locrian #2 scale is the sixth mode of the melodic minor scale, locrian with its flat 2nd raised to a natural 2nd. That one change gives half-diminished chords a usable scale without the b9 rub against the root, which is why jazz players treat it as the polished choice over m7b5 in minor ii-V-i progressions.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

i°

B♭dim
C

ii°

Cdim
D♭

biii

D♭m
E♭

iv

E♭m
F♭

bV+

F♭aug
G♭

bVI

G♭maj
A♭

bVII

A♭maj

Characteristic note: C (natural 2), the natural second that makes this the friendlier half-diminished scale.

Same notes, different mode

Bb locrian #2 uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C alteredDb melodic minorEb dorian b2Fb lydian augmentedGb lydian dominantAb mixolydian b6

locrian #2 in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Over a m7b5 chord, Bb locrian #2 (C#) is the polished choice: the natural 2nd (C) removes the b9 clash that plain locrian has against the root.
  • Think melodic minor up a minor 3rd from Bb; borrowed fingerings work as-is.
  • Start lines on the natural 2nd (C) to advertise the difference from locrian, then outline the half-diminished arpeggio.
  • In a minor ii-V-i, follow it with the altered scale of the V chord: two modes of neighboring melodic minors, one seamless line.

How to play B♭ locrian #2 on guitar

Both E strings ring Fb open, the diminished fifth of Bb locrian #2, so the flat five is available as an outer-string drone. A-shape root sits at fret 1, E-shape at fret 6, which means both barre anchors stay low on the neck. Capo at fret 1 rereads everything as A shapes. Six flats fill the signature, and C# melodic minor lives on this fingering, 3 frets up.

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