STRINGSCALES

B locrian #2 Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: B, C#, D, E, F, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, G, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

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B 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°

Bdim
C♯

ii°

C♯dim
D

biii

Dm
E

iv

Em
F

bV+

Faug
G

bVI

Gmaj
A

bVII

Amaj

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

Same notes, different mode

B 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# alteredD melodic minorE dorian b2F lydian augmentedG lydian dominantA mixolydian b6

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

tip
  • Over a m7b5 chord, B locrian #2 (D) 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 B; 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

All six open strings belong to B locrian #2: root on B, fourth on both E strings, seventh on A, third on D, sixth on G, so full open strums stay inside the scale. One learned shape doubles as D melodic minor 3 frets higher, which lets you reuse fingerings on the spot. Bdim is the tonic triad. Roots also sit at fret 7 on both E strings and fret 2 on the A string; the first position ends at fret 11.

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