‘E flat locrian’ is the 7th mode of the F flat Major scale. The notes in Eb locrian are:
Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db
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 Eb locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
Eb Locrian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
Eb Major scale has the following notes:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (F), 3rd note (G), 5th note (Bb), 6th note (C) and 7th note (D), we get the following:
Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db
Eb Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Eb is the 7th note of the Fb Major scale:
Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb
If we play the Fb Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db
Let’s look at the Eb locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Eb Locrian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
Eb Locrian Mode CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at Eb locrian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
Eb Locrian in the 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)
Eb Locrian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)
Eb Locrian in the 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
Eb Locrian in the 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)
Eb Locrian in the 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Eb locrian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the locrian mode, check out locrian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Eb diminished chord (Eb locrian works well over this chord)
- Ebm7b5 chord (Eb locrian works well over this chord)
- Fb Major scale (Eb locrian is the seventh mode of the Fb Major scale)
