E LOCRIAN MODE

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

E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D

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 E locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

E Major has the following notes:

E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#

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

E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D

Derivative Approach:

E is the 7th note of the F major scale:

F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E

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

E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D

Let’s look at the E 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 E locrian in the 1st position (lowest fret is 1)

Now let’s look at E locrian in the 5th position (lowest fret is 5)

Now let’s look at E locrian in the 6th position (lowest fret is 6)

Now let’s look at E locrian in the 9th position (lowest fret is 9)

Finally, let’s look at E locrian in the 12th position (lowest fret is 12)

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

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