A# Locrian #2 Guitar Scale

Guitar scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced

A# locrian #2 scale — 6-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the A# locrian #2 scale on 6-string guitar with 22 frets. Notes: E, F#, G#, A#, C, C#, D#.EF#G#A#CC#D#EF#G#A#CC#CC#D#EF#G#A#CC#D#EF#G#G#A#CC#D#EF#G#A#CC#D#ED#EF#G#A#CC#D#EF#G#A#CA#CC#D#EF#G#A#CC#D#EF#EF#G#A#CC#D#EF#G#A#CC#1357911121315171921

What chords fit over A# Locrian #2?

Open A# Locrian #2 Harmonizer

A# Locrian #2 Scale — Notes and Intervals

The A# Locrian #2 scale is a more usable and consonant version of the standard Locrian mode. On Guitar, it contains the notes A#, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G#. It is the preferred choice for jazz musicians soloing over half-diminished chords, as its natural second degree allows for much smoother and more melodic voice leading. Commonly used in Jazz, Post-Bop, Contemporary. Notable players include John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Steve Coleman. Use over m7b5 chords. The preferred jazz choice over half-diminished chords (vs standard Locrian which sounds too harsh).

Notes: A#, C, C#, D#, E, 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

Also known as: half-diminished, aeolian b5

Musical Character

DarkSmoothTenseControlled

The natural 2nd degree (vs b2 in standard Locrian) makes this vastly more usable — smoother voice leading while retaining the essential b5 for half-diminished harmony.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Jazz, Post-Bop, Contemporary

Notable players: John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Steve Coleman

How to Use the A# Locrian #2 Scale

Use over m7b5 chords. The preferred jazz choice over half-diminished chords (vs standard Locrian which sounds too harsh).

Origin & Background

The sixth mode of the melodic minor scale. Jazz musicians prefer it over standard Locrian for its smoother sound.

How to Play A# Locrian #2 on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 6 on the 6th (low E) to find your A# root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 1st fret on the A string.

The A# Locrian #2 scale contains 5 sharps (A#, C#, D#, F#, G#). Its relative major is C# major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine

Set a metronome to 100 BPM and play the A# Locrian #2 scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A# to let the characteristic intervals of the Locrian #2 scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in post-bop contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the A# Locrian #2 scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications. Aim for a dark quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

Locrian #2 is the 6th mode of the Melodic Minor scale. View A# Melodic minor scale

The A# Locrian #2 scale contains 7 notes (A#, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for A# Locrian #2

The A# Locrian #2 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# Locrian #2 Further

Explore A# Locrian #2 in Other Tunings

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