E Locrian #6: Open Position and Natural Sixth

E, F, G, A, Bb, C# and D make up the E Locrian #6 scale. The Bb is the flat fifth that gives every Locrian its unstable core, while C# is the natural sixth that sets this version apart.

Four open strings (low E, A, D and G) belong to the scale, so the first shape needs only a few frets. The notes are D harmonic minor from its second degree. Before using it in a solo, look at which scale fits which chord to see where half-diminished chords appear.

Play the E locrian #6 scale

Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.

Notes of the E locrian #6 scale

NoteDegreeIntervalSemitones from root
E1Root0
Fb2Minor 2nd1
Gb3Minor 3rd3
A4Perfect 4th5
Bbb5Tritone6
C#6Major 6th9
Db7Minor 7th10

Structure

E locrian #6 scale notes:

E F G A Bb C# D

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.

E Locrian #6 Scale Guitar Patterns

Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - On one string (low E)

On one string (low E)

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 1

Box pattern — position 1

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 2

Box pattern — position 2

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 3

Box pattern — position 3

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 4

Box pattern — position 4

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - Box pattern — position 5

Box pattern — position 5

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 1

3 notes per string — position 1

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 2

3 notes per string — position 2

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 3

3 notes per string — position 3

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 4

3 notes per string — position 4

E Locrian #6 Scale scale guitar pattern - 3 notes per string — position 5

3 notes per string — position 5

Chords in the E locrian #6 scale

Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.

DegreeTriadSeventh chord
1 Edim Em7(b5)
b2 Faug Fmaj7(b13)
b3 Gm Gm7
4 A A7
b5 Bb Bbmaj7
6 C#dim C#dim7
b7 Dm Dm(maj7)

Scales with the same notes as E Locrian #6

These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.

ScaleStarts on degreeLearn the scale
F Ionian #5 b2 Ionian #5 Scale
G Dorian #4 b3 Romanian Minor
A Phrygian Dominant 4 Jewish Scale
Bb Lydian #2 b5 Lydian #2 Scale
C# Super Locrian bb7 6 Super Locrian bb7
D Harmonic Minor b7 Aeolian Maj 7

Other scales on E

Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.

The locrian #6 scale in other keys

C Locrian #6 C# Locrian #6 D Locrian #6 Eb Locrian #6 E Locrian #6 F Locrian #6 F# Locrian #6 G Locrian #6 Ab Locrian #6 A Locrian #6 Bb Locrian #6 B Locrian #6

All about the locrian #6 scale →

Keep learning

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher