F# Locrian Mode
F#–G–A–B–C–D–E · root also written Gb
F# Locrian is the 7th mode of the G major scale: F#–G–A–B–C–D–E. 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 (C) in your phrases — landing on it against the root is what makes a line sound Locrian instead of plain minor.
Because every mode of G major shares the same seven notes, any G 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 G 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# | G | A | B | C | D | E |
The highlighted C 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 | G |
| 5 | ♭5 | C |
Chords in F# Locrian
The seven chords of G 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 G major scale — the same seven notes starting from F#: F#–G–A–B–C–D–E. 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 (G), and where F# natural minor has 5, F# Locrian has ♭5 (C). 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 G major scale, reordered to start from F#: F#° (i°), G (♭II), Am (♭iii), Bm (iv), C (♭V), D (♭VI), Em (♭vii). A two-chord vamp between F#° and G 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?
G major. F# Locrian uses exactly the notes of G major starting from its 7th degree, so every G major shape on the fretboard doubles as a F# Locrian shape. The same notes also spell G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, and E 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 G major shapes you already know, resolve every phrase to F#, and lean on the flat 5th (C). 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 G 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.