G LOCRIAN MODE

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

G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – 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 – F#

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

G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F

Derivative Approach:

G is the 7th note of the Ab major scale:

Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G

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

G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – 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 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

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

Now let’s look at G locrian in the 8th position (lowest fret is 8)

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

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

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.