‘D locrian’ is the 7th mode of the Eb Major scale. The notes in D locrian are:
D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C
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 D locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
D Locrian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
D Major scale has the following notes:
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#
If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (E), 3rd note (F#), 5th note (A), 6th note (B) and 7th note (C#), we get the following:
D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C
D Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
D is the 7th note of the Eb Major scale:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
If we play the Eb Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C
Let’s look at the D locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
D Locrian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
D Locrian Mode CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at D locrian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
D Locrian in the 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)
D Locrian in the 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)
D Locrian in the 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
D Locrian in the 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
D Locrian in the 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of D locrian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the locrian mode, check out locrian mode explained.
Further Reading
- D diminished chord (D locrian works well over this chord)
- Dm7b5 chord (D locrian works well over this chord)
- Eb Major scale (D locrian is the seventh mode of the Eb Major scale)
