E Super Locrian Pentatonic Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
E Super Locrian Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Super Locrian Pentatonic scale is an aggressive and highly dissonant subset of the altered scale. On Ukulele, it contains the notes E, G, Ab, Bb, D. It is a primary tool for advanced jazz guitarists and horn players to create outside tension over altered dominant chords before resolving back to the tonic. Commonly used in Jazz, Avant-Garde, Fusion. Notable players include John Coltrane, Michael Brecker. Use over 7alt, 7#9b13 chords. The pentatonic shortcut for maximum 'outside' tension over altered dominants.
Notes: E, G, Ab, Bb, D
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4d, 5d, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-H-W-4-W
Number of notes: 5
How to Play E Super Locrian Pentatonic on Ukulele
On ukulele, find E on the fret 4 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. With 5 notes, this scale fits neatly on the ukulele's short fretboard without requiring large stretches.
The E Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 2 flats (Ab, Bb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the E Super Locrian Pentatonic 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.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in E. Try a E5 - Bb5 - D5 progression.
Ukulele Tips
The compact fretboard of the ukulele makes the E Super Locrian Pentatonic scale easy to visualize in a single position. Use this to your advantage by memorizing the scale shape relative to chord shapes you already know.
The E Super Locrian Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (E, G, Ab, Bb, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Super Locrian Pentatonic
The E Super Locrian Pentatonic 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 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore E Super Locrian Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the E Super Locrian Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Super Locrian Pentatonic on Guitar
- E Super Locrian Pentatonic on Bass
- E Super Locrian Pentatonic on Piano