D Sharp Locrian Mode on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory

‘D sharp locrian’ is the 7th mode of the E Major scale. The notes in D# locrian are:

D# – E – F# – G# – A – B – 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# – Fx – G# – A# – B# – Cx

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

D# – E – F# – G# – A – B – C#

D# Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach

D# is the 7th note of the E Major scale:

E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#

If we play the E Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:

D# – E – F# – G# – A – B – 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 Sharp Locrian Mode Open Position Frets
D Sharp Locrian Mode Open Position Notes

D# Locrian Mode CAGED Positions

Now let’s look at D# locrian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.

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 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)

D Sharp Locrian Mode 4th Position Frets
D Sharp Locrian Mode 4th Position Notes

D# Locrian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)

D Sharp Locrian Mode 5th Position Frets
D Sharp Locrian Mode 5th Position Notes

D# Locrian in the 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)

D Sharp Locrian Mode 8th Position Frets
D Sharp Locrian Mode 8th Position Notes

D# Locrian in the 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)

D Sharp Locrian Mode 11th Position Frets
D Sharp Locrian Mode 11th Position Frets

D# Locrian in the 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)

D Sharp Locrian Mode 12th Position Notes
D Sharp Locrian Mode 12th Position Frets

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

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