‘E sharp locrian’ is the 7th mode of the F# Major scale. The notes in E# locrian are:
E# – F# – G# – A# – B – 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# – Fx – Gx – A# – B# – Cx – Dx
If we ‘lower’ the 2nd note (Fx), 3rd note (Gx), 5th note (B#), 6th note (Cx) and 7th note (Dx), we get the following:
E# – F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D#
E# Locrian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
E# is the 7th note of the F# Major scale:
F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E#
If we play the F# Major scale and start on the 7th note we get the following:
E# – F# – G# – A# – B – 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 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
E# Locrian in the 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
E# Locrian in the 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
E# Locrian in the 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
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
- F# Major scale (E# locrian is the seventh mode of the F# Major scale)
