Guitar scale reference
E Locrian scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Locrian combines a minor 3rd with flattened 2nd and flattened 5th degrees. Its diminished tonic structure is unstable, making clear interval awareness especially important when navigating positions.
What gives the scale its sound
The ♭5 removes the perfect-fifth anchor and the ♭2 presses against the root. Emphasise the diminished triad 1–♭3–♭5 before adding the remaining scale tones.
- Interval formula
- 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · ♭6 · ♭7
- Notes in E
- E · F · G · A · B♭ · C · D
E Locrian across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------0--1--3--1--0-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------1--3-----------------3--1-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------0--2--3-----------------------------3--2--0----------------------------| D|-------------------0--2--3-----------------------------------------------3--2--0-------------------| A|----------0--1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------3--1--0----------| E|-0--1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3--1--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------1--3--5--3--1----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------1--3--5-----------------5--3--1-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------2--3--5-----------------------------------5--3--2----------------------------| D|-------------------2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------5--3--2-------------------| A|----------1--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--1----------| E|-1--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--1-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------3--5--6--5--3----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------3--5--6-----------------6--5--3-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------7--5--3----------------------------| D|-------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------7--5--3-------------------| A|----------3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--3----------| E|-3--5--6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--5--3-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------6--8-10--8--6----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------6--8-10----------------10--8--6-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------7--9-10----------------------------------10--9--7----------------------------| D|-------------------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------10--8--7-------------------| A|----------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7----------| E|-6--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--6-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------8-10-12-10--8----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8-10-11----------------11-10--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10--9----------------------------| D|-------------------8-10-12----------------------------------------------------12-10--8-------------------| A|----------8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--8----------| E|-8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--8-|
Practice drill
Map the diminished triad in all five positions first. Add ♭2 as a neighbour to the root, then connect positions by moving between chord tones rather than running the scale mechanically.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser