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The Locrian Pentatonic Scale - Guitar Shapes and Formula Charts

The Locrian pentatonic scale is a five-note scale derived from the Locrian mode, which is the seventh mode of the major scale and is characterized by a diminished fifth and a dark, unstable sound.

The pentatonic version removes some notes to create a simpler, more concise scale.

Locrian Pentatonic Construction

Locrian Mode:

Notes: 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7

Locrian Pentatonic Scale:

To derive the Locrian pentatonic scale, musicians typically remove the 2nd (2 / 9) and 6th (b6 / b13) degrees of the Locrian mode.

This leaves you with the following notes:

Notes: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭7

Example in B Locrian:

B Locrian Scale: B, C, D, E, F, G, A

B Locrian Pentatonic Scale: B, D, E, F, A

The chart below show how the Locrian pentatonic scale is built from the Locrian mode, meaning that you can use it over half-diminished chords.

Locrian Mode B C D E F G A
Formula 1 b2 (b9) b3 4 (11) b5 b6 (b13) b7
Locrian Pentatonic Scale 1 X b3 4 (11) b5 X b7
Locrian pentatonic scale versus locrian mode

Comparison With Minor Pentatonic

Here is a quick comparison with the minor pentatonic scale, only one note differs.

There is a perfect fifth in the minor pentatonic scale, whereas the fifth is lowered by a half-step in the Locrian pentatonic.

Locrian pentatonic scale versus minor pentatonic

One-Octave Shapes

Here are four basic shapes to play the Locrian pentatonic scale on guitar.

Each form has the tonic note (1) on two different strings.

You have to be able to play each shape anywhere on the guitar, in all twelve keys.

Locrian pentatonic scale charts for guitar

Two-Octave Shapes

These diagrams show how to play the Locrian pentatonic scale within the space of two octaves.

Locrian pentatonic scale guitar positions

5 Positions

These shapes will help you play the Locrian pentatonic scale all over the guitar neck.

Notice that each position starts on a each degree of the scale (1, b3, 4, b5, b7).

Locrian pentatonic scale guitar shapes

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Last edited: 2024-08-17

Comments

  • James

    1 James On 19/03/2022

    Is it true that a pentatonic scale doesn't have any half steps? If that is true, then your locrian pentatonic scales are confusing me because I see half steps in the patterns, which I think shouldn't be there...
    jazz-guitar-licks

    jazz-guitar-licks On 20/03/2022

    It's not true, pentatonic scales can have half-steps.

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