The D Locrian #6 Scale for Guitar
D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B and C are the notes of the D Locrian #6 scale. Ab is the flat fifth and B is the natural sixth, and together they make a minor-sounding scale that does not collapse into plain Locrian.
Let the open D string drone while you play the scale, and note that the open G and B strings also belong to it. The scale is the second mode of C harmonic minor. Practise with diagonal scale patterns to link the boxes.
Play the D locrian #6 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the D locrian #6 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Eb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| F | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Ab | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| B | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| C | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
D 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.
D Locrian #6 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
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 D locrian #6 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as D 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eb Ionian #5 | b2 | Ionian #5 Scale |
| F Dorian #4 | b3 | Romanian Minor |
| G Phrygian Dominant | 4 | Jewish Scale |
| Ab Lydian #2 | b5 | Lydian #2 Scale |
| B Super Locrian bb7 | 6 | Super Locrian bb7 |
| C Harmonic Minor | b7 | Aeolian Maj 7 |
Other scales on D
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- D Locrian: b6 instead of 6
- D 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
