Eb Locrian Mode
Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab–A–Cb–Db · root also written D#
Eb Locrian is the 7th mode of the E major scale: Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab–A–Cb–Db. Its character: unstable, dissonant, and eerie — the darkest of all modes.
The flat 2nd and flat 5th create a diminished root chord, making the tonic feel inherently unresolved. Used sparingly for maximum tension and unease. On guitar, target the flat 5th (A) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Locrian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of E major shares the same seven notes, any E major fretboard shape works for Eb Locrian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a Eb° vamp or a backing track that stays on Eb, keep resolving your phrases to Eb, and the Locrian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in metal and jazz.
Eb Locrian is mode 7 of E Major — same seven notes, resolved to Eb instead.
Eb Locrian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (Eb).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | ♭2 | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab | A | Cb | Db |
The highlighted A is the flat 5th — the note that gives Locrian its sound.
Locrian vs. Natural Minor
Everything else about the two scales is identical — these are the only degrees that change.
| Eb natural minor | Eb Locrian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ♭2 | Fb |
| 5 | ♭5 | A |
Chords in Eb Locrian
The seven chords of E Major, reordered to start from Eb — vamping between the first two or three keeps the Locrian sound from collapsing back into the parent key.
Songs That Use the Locrian Sound
Black Sabbath — “Black Sabbath”
The tritone (flat 5th) that opens the song captures Locrian's essence. Tony Iommi leans into the diminished quality for maximum dread.
Dream Theater — “The Glass Prison”
Uses Locrian passages in the heavy sections, leveraging the diminished root chord and flat 5th for intense, unsettled riffing.
John Coltrane — “Impressions (bridge)”
While primarily Dorian, Coltrane explores Locrian territory in his improvisations over half-diminished chords, pushing into its dissonant character.
Eb Locrian Mode FAQ
What is the Eb Locrian mode?
Eb Locrian is the 7th mode of the E major scale — the same seven notes starting from Eb: Eb–Fb–Gb–Ab–A–Cb–Db. The interval formula is R–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–♭6–♭7.
What is the difference between Eb Locrian and Eb natural minor?
Two notes: where Eb natural minor has 2, Eb Locrian has ♭2 (Fb), and where Eb natural minor has 5, Eb Locrian has ♭5 (A). Those alterations are the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with Eb Locrian?
The seven chords of the parent E major scale, reordered to start from Eb: Eb° (i°), E (♭II), F#m (♭iii), Abm (iv), A (♭V), B (♭VI), Dbm (♭vii). A two-chord vamp between Eb° and E is the classic way to establish the Locrian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as Eb Locrian?
E major. Eb Locrian uses exactly the notes of E major starting from its 7th degree, so every E major shape on the fretboard doubles as a Eb Locrian shape. The same notes also spell E Ionian, F# Dorian, Ab Phrygian, A Lydian, B Mixolydian, and Db Aeolian.
How do I practice the Eb Locrian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static Eb° vamp or a drone on Eb, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the E major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to Eb, and lean on the flat 5th (A). OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Modes Sharing These Notes
All seven modes of E Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice Eb Locrian with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run modes to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.