About the G#/Ab Locrian Scale
The G#/Ab locrian scale is a 7-note scale. Diminished quality with flat 2nd and flat 5th, unstable and tense. Its notes are G#, A, B, C#, D, E and F#, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- G# – A – B – C# – D – E – F#
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W W H W W W (1–2–2–1–2–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- G#/Ab
G#/Ab Locrian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| ♭2 | A | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C# | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | D | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | E | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | F# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Locrian Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
How to practice the locrian scale
- Emphasize the ♭5 for the diminished sound
- Use over m7♭5 / half-diminished chords
- Practice resolving Locrian phrases into a stronger mode
- Compare with Phrygian to hear the lowered 5th
- Try metal riffs that lean on the tritone
Scales with the same notes as G#/Ab Locrian Scale
These scales share every note with the G#/Ab locrian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Locrian scale in other keys
Other scales in G#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Blues
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)