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