F LOCRIAN MODE

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

F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb

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

Parallel Approach:

F Major has the following notes:

F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E

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

F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb

Derivative Approach:

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

Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F

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

F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb

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

Now let’s look at F locrian in the 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

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

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

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

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

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