G# Locrian Major Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
G# Locrian Major in Open D — Notes and Intervals
The G# Locrian Major scale is a 20th-century hybrid that combines the stability of a major third with the dissonance of a Locrian base. On Guitar, it contains the notes G#, A#, C, C#, D, E, F#. It was used by experimental composers to create a sound that is both familiar and alien. Commonly used in Experimental, Contemporary Classical, Avant-Garde. Notable players include Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Ligeti. Use in experimental composition over polytonal or atonal passages. A tool for creating cognitive dissonance.
Notes: G#, A#, C, C#, D, E, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-W-H-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
Also known as: arabian
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- G# Locrian Major in Standard Tuning
- G# Locrian Major in Drop D
- G# Locrian Major in DADGAD
- G# Locrian Major in Open G
- G# Locrian Major in Baritone (B Standard)
- G# Locrian Major in 7-string
- G# Locrian Major in 8-string
- G# Locrian Major in Drop C
- G# Locrian Major in Drop B
- G# Locrian Major in Half Step Down
- G# Locrian Major in Open E
- G# Locrian Major in Open A
- G# Locrian Major in Double Drop D
- G# Locrian Major in Open C