D LOCRIAN MODE

‘D Locrian’ is the 7th mode of the E flat major scale. The notes in D Locrian are:

D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C

If you have read the post on understanding the locrian mode, you will know that the locrian mode contains a ‘flat 2′, a ‘flat 3′ a ‘flat 5′ a ‘flat 6′ and a ‘flat 7′ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 7th mode of the major scale (derivative approach). The locrian mode is a very ‘dark’ sounding mode and is probably the hardest of the 7 modes to get acquainted with. Let’s briefly look at how to construct D locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

D Major has the following notes:

D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#

If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (E), 3rd note (F#), 5th note (A), 6th note (B) and 7th note (C#), we get the following:

D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C

Derivative Approach:

D is the 7th note of the Eb major scale:

Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D

If we play the Eb major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:

D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C

Let’s look at the D locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Positions Along the Fretboard:

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

Now let’s look at D locrian in the 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

Now let’s look at D locrian in the 4th position (lowest fret is 4)

Now let’s look at D locrian in the 7th position (lowest fret is 7)

Now let’s look at D locrian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

Finally, let’s look at D locrian in the 11th position (lowest fret is 11)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of D locrian along the guitar fretboard.

For an in depth explanation of the locrian mode, check out locrian mode explained.