G SHARP LOCRIAN MODE

‘G Sharp Locrian’ is the 7th mode of the A major scale. The notes in G# Locrian are:

G# – A – B – C# – D – E – F#

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 G# locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

G# Major has the following notes:

G# – A# – B# – C# – D# – E# – Fx

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

G# – A – B – C# – D – E – F#

Derivative Approach:

G# is the 7th note of the A major scale:

A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#

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

G# – A – B – C# – D – E – F#

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

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

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

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

Finally, let’s look at G# locrian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

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

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