‘C locrian’ is the 7th mode of the D flat Major scale. The notes in C locrian are:
C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb
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 C locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
C Locrian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
C Major scale has the following notes:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B
If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (D), 3rd note (E), 5th note (G), 6th note (A) and 7th note (B), we get the following:
C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb
C Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
C is the 7th note of the Db Major scale:
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C
If we play the Db Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Ab
Let’s look at the C locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
C Locrian Mode CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at C locrian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
C Locrian in the 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
C Locrian in the 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
C Locrian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)
C Locrian in the 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
C Locrian in the 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of A# locrian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the locrian mode, check out locrian mode explained.
Further Reading
- C diminished chord (C locrian works well over this chord)
- Cm7b5 chord (C locrian works well over this chord)
- Db Major scale (C locrian is the seventh mode of the Db Major scale)
