About the E Locrian Scale
The E locrian scale is a 7-note scale. Diminished quality with flat 2nd and flat 5th, unstable and tense. Its notes are E, F, G, A, A#, C and D, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- E – F – G – A – A# – C – D
- 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
- E
E Locrian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Root |
| ♭2 | F | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | G | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | A# | Tritone (♭5) |
| ♭6 | C | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | D | Minor 7th |
Where to play the E Locrian Scale on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (E) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| A2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| D3 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| G3 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| B3 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| E4 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
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 E Locrian Scale
These scales share every note with the E locrian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Locrian scale in other keys
Other scales in E
- E Minor Pentatonic
- E Major Pentatonic
- E Mixolydian Pentatonic
- E Natural Minor
- E Major (Ionian)
- E Blues
- E Dorian
- E Mixolydian
- E Phrygian
- E Harmonic Minor
- E Lydian
- E Diminished (Half-Whole)
- E Diminished (Whole-Half)
- E Whole Tone
- E Augmented (Hexatonic)
- E Altered (Super Locrian)
- E Phrygian Dominant
- E Lydian Dominant
- E Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- E Bebop Dominant
- E Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- E Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)