‘C sharp locrian’ is the 7th mode of the D Major scale. The notes in C# locrian are:
C# – D – E – F# – G – A – B
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# – D – E – F# – G – A – B
C# Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
C# is the 7th note of the D Major scale:
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#
If we play the C# Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
C# – D – E – F# – G – A – B
Let’s look at the C# locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
C# Locrian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
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 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
C# Locrian in the 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)
C# Locrian in the 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
C# Locrian in the 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
C# Locrian in the 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of C# 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)
- C#m7b5 chord (C# locrian works well over this chord)
- D Major scale (C# locrian is the seventh mode of the D Major scale)
