‘E locrian’ is the 7th mode of the F Major scale. The notes in E locrian are:
E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D
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 E locrian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
E Locrian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
E Major scale has the following notes:
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#
If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (F#), 3rd note (G#), 5th note (B), 6th note (C#) and 7th note (D#), we get the following:
E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D
E Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
E is the 7th note of the F Major scale:
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E
If we play the F Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D
Let’s look at the E locrian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
E Locrian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
E Locrian Mode CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at E locrian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
E Locrian in the 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
E Locrian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)
E Locrian in the 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
E Locrian in the 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
E Locrian in the 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of E locrian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the locrian mode, check out locrian mode explained.
Further Reading
- E diminished chord (E locrian works well over this chord)
- Em7b5 chord (E locrian works well over this chord)
- F Major scale (E locrian is the seventh mode of the F Major scale)
