F Locrian #6, Low on the Neck
F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D and Eb make up the F Locrian #6 scale. The Cb is the flat fifth and sounds like B natural, and the D is the natural sixth that lifts the scale above plain Locrian.
With the root on the 1st fret of the low E string, the lowest box is right beside the nut. The notes belong to Eb harmonic minor, from its second degree. When it feels natural, practising scales in context shows how to use it.
Play the F locrian #6 scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the F locrian #6 scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Gb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| Ab | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| Bb | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Cb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| D | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| Eb | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
F 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.
F Locrian #6 Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
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 F locrian #6 scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as F 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F# Ionian #5 | b2 | Ionian #5 Scale |
| Ab Dorian #4 | b3 | Romanian Minor |
| Bb Phrygian Dominant | 4 | Jewish Scale |
| B Lydian #2 | b5 | Lydian #2 Scale |
| D Super Locrian bb7 | 6 | Super Locrian bb7 |
| Eb Harmonic Minor | b7 | Aeolian Maj 7 |
Other scales on F
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- F Locrian: b6 instead of 6
- F 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
