STRINGSCALES

G locrian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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G locrian

The locrian mode flattens the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th, leaving a diminished chord on the root: the only mode of the major scale with no stable home. That instability is the point. Use it over half-diminished (m7b5) chords in minor ii-V progressions, or in metal where its tritone-against-root tension is a feature rather than a problem.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

G

i°

Gdim
A♭

bII

A♭maj
B♭

biii

B♭m
C

iv

Cm
D♭

bV

D♭maj
E♭

bVI

E♭maj
F

bvii

Fm

Characteristic notes: Db (b5) and Ab (b2), the flat five and flat two that give locrian its unstable, diminished character.

Same notes, different mode

G locrian 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.

Ab major · relative majorBb dorianC phrygianDb lydianEb mixolydianF minor · relative minor

locrian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Use G locrian over m7b5 chords: arpeggiate root, bIII (Bb), bV (Db), bVII (F) first so the ear accepts the flat 5th as a chord tone.
  • The flat 2nd (Ab) against the root and the flat 5th (Db) against open strings are the darkest intervals here; metal riffs live on exactly those.
  • Resolve somewhere: G locrian phrases work best leading into the chord a half step below G or into the relative major a half step above the root.
  • Compare with locrian #2 (A#) over the same m7b5 chord; if the b2 (Ab) clashes with the bass, that natural 2nd is the fix.

How to play G locrian on guitar

Open G rings the tonic, so the third string doubles as a pedal under anything you play higher up. No other open string belongs here. Fret 3 on the low E gives the deepest root, with the E-shape barre in the same place, which means one grip covers the chord and the position together. Cm is the iv chord and four flats sit in the signature.

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