A Locrian #6 Scale on Guitar
The A Locrian #6 scale, sometimes called Locrian natural 6, has the notes A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F# and G. It is A Locrian with the sixth raised from F to F#, which removes some of the darkness of the plain mode.
That makes it a good match for an Am7b5 chord, and the scale is the second mode of G harmonic minor. The open A, D and G strings are all inside it, and the root sits on the 5th fret of the low E string.
Play the A locrian #6 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A locrian #6 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| C | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| D | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Eb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| F# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A locrian #6 scale notes:
How the locrian #6 scale is built:
The locrian #6 scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-W-H-W+H-H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 2 of the Harmonic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Locrian natural 6.
A Locrian #6 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the A locrian #6 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as A Locrian #6
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| Bb Ionian #5 | b2 | Ionian #5 Scale |
| C Dorian #4 | b3 | Romanian Minor |
| D Phrygian Dominant | 4 | Jewish Scale |
| Eb Lydian #2 | b5 | Lydian #2 Scale |
| F# Super Locrian bb7 | 6 | Super Locrian bb7 |
| G Harmonic Minor | b7 | Aeolian Maj 7 |
Other scales on A
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- A Locrian: b6 instead of 6
- A Dorian b2: 5 instead of b5
The locrian #6 scale in other keys
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
