A Minor Locrian Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Minor Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Minor Locrian scale provides a smoother approach to half-diminished chord improvisation by raising the second degree of standard Locrian. On Banjo (5-String), its notes are A, B, C, D, Eb, F, G. Jazz musicians rely on its natural second for elegant voice leading over m7b5 chords in minor ii-V-i progressions, where pure Locrian would sound too angular. Commonly used in Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion, Progressive. Notable players include John Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. The natural 2nd provides smoother voice leading than standard Locrian while retaining the essential b5. Preferred by jazz musicians for minor ii-V-i progressions.
Notes: A, B, C, D, Eb, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
Locrian with a raised 2nd degree, sharing its lower tetrachord with Aeolian (natural minor) and its upper tetrachord with Locrian. This hybrid provides a smoother, more usable approach to half-diminished chord improvisation than pure Locrian.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion, Progressive
Notable players: John Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Kurt Rosenwinkel
How to Use the A Minor Locrian Scale
Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. The natural 2nd provides smoother voice leading than standard Locrian while retaining the essential b5. Preferred by jazz musicians for minor ii-V-i progressions.
Origin & Background
Functionally equivalent to Locrian #2 (the 6th mode of melodic minor). Jazz improvisers developed this as a practical alternative to standard Locrian, whose b2 created awkward voice leading over half-diminished chords. The natural 2nd degree smooths out the melodic contour while preserving the characteristic b5.
How to Play A Minor Locrian on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Minor Locrian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Minor Locrian scale contains 1 flat (Eb). Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Begin by playing the A Minor Locrian scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C, B-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Locrian scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in jazz contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the A Minor Locrian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a dark quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Minor Locrian is the 6th mode of the Melodic Minor scale (Locrian #2). View A Melodic minor scale
The A Minor Locrian scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C, D, Eb, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Minor Locrian
The A Minor Locrian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Minor Locrian Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A Minor Locrian on Guitar
- A Minor Locrian on Ukulele
- A Minor Locrian on Bass
- A Minor Locrian on Piano