E Locrian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
E Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Guitar, the notes are E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D. It sounds highly dissonant and unresolved, as its home chord is a diminished triad. While rare as a primary key, it is a crucial technical tool for jazz musicians improvising over half-diminished chords in tension-heavy passages. The diatonic chords of E Locrian are Em7b5, FMaj7, Gm7, Am7, BbMaj7, C7, Dm7. Commonly used in Jazz, Metal, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include John Coltrane, Meshuggah, Dream Theater. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz ii-V-i in minor keys where the ii chord is half-diminished.
Notes: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
Em7♭5 — FMaj7 — Gm7 — Am7 — B♭Maj7 — C7 — Dm7
How to Play E Locrian on Guitar
Start the E Locrian scale in open position, taking advantage of the open E string. 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 open position.
The E Locrian scale contains 1 flat (Bb). Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the E Locrian scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Try these progressions with the E Locrian scale: Em7b5 - Am7 - BbMaj7 - Em7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or Em7b5 - FMaj7 - Am7 - BbMaj7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the E Locrian scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs.
The E Locrian scale contains 7 notes (E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Locrian
The E 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 E Locrian Further
- Harmonize the E Locrian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Locrian on Ukulele
- E Locrian on Bass
- E Locrian on Piano
Explore E Locrian in Other Tunings
- E Locrian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Locrian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Locrian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Locrian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Locrian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Locrian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Locrian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Locrian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Locrian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Locrian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Locrian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Locrian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Locrian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Locrian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)