F Locrian Mode
F–Gb–Ab–Bb–Cb–Db–Eb
F Locrian is the 7th mode of the F# major scale: F–Gb–Ab–Bb–Cb–Db–Eb. 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 (Cb) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Locrian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of F# major shares the same seven notes, any F# major fretboard shape works for F Locrian — what changes is the note you resolve to. Loop a F° vamp or a backing track that stays on F, keep resolving your phrases to F, and the Locrian color comes through. You'll hear this sound in metal and jazz.
F Locrian is mode 7 of F# Major — same seven notes, resolved to F instead.
F Locrian on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the mode — blue dots are the root (F).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | ♭2 | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb |
The highlighted Cb 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.
| F natural minor | F Locrian | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ♭2 | Gb |
| 5 | ♭5 | Cb |
Chords in F Locrian
The seven chords of F# Major, reordered to start from F — 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.
F Locrian Mode FAQ
What is the F Locrian mode?
F Locrian is the 7th mode of the F# major scale — the same seven notes starting from F: F–Gb–Ab–Bb–Cb–Db–Eb. The interval formula is R–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–♭6–♭7.
What is the difference between F Locrian and F natural minor?
Two notes: where F natural minor has 2, F Locrian has ♭2 (Gb), and where F natural minor has 5, F Locrian has ♭5 (Cb). Those alterations are the entire difference in sound — everything else about the two scales is identical.
What chords work with F Locrian?
The seven chords of the parent F# major scale, reordered to start from F: F° (i°), F# (♭II), Abm (♭iii), Bbm (iv), B (♭V), Db (♭VI), Ebm (♭vii). A two-chord vamp between F° and F# is the classic way to establish the Locrian sound without drifting back to the parent key.
What major scale has the same notes as F Locrian?
F# major. F Locrian uses exactly the notes of F# major starting from its 7th degree, so every F# major shape on the fretboard doubles as a F Locrian shape. The same notes also spell F# Ionian, Ab Dorian, Bb Phrygian, B Lydian, Db Mixolydian, and Eb Aeolian.
How do I practice the F Locrian mode?
Modes live and die by harmonic context — run over a static F° vamp or a drone on F, not a full progression that pulls back to the parent key. Play the F# major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to F, and lean on the flat 5th (Cb). 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 F# Major use the same seven notes — each one treats a different note as home.
Related Modes
Practice F 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.