‘F Sharp Locrian’ is the 7th mode of the G major scale. The notes in F# Locrian are:
F# – G – A – B – C – D – E
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# – B – 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# – G – A – B – C – D – E
Derivative Approach:
F# is the 7th note of the G major scale:
G – A – B – C – D – E – F#
If we play the G major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
F# – G – A – B – C – D – E
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 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)
Now let’s look at F# locrian in the 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)
Now let’s look at F# locrian in the 7th position (lowest fret is 7)
Now let’s look at F# locrian in the 8th position (lowest fret is 8)
Finally, let’s look at F# locrian in the 11th position (lowest fret is 11)
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.