A Locrian Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
A Locrian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Banjo (5-String), the notes are A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G. It sounds highly dissonant and unresolved, as its home chord is a diminished triad. While rare as a primary key, it is a crucial technical tool for jazz musicians improvising over half-diminished chords in tension-heavy passages. The diatonic chords of A Locrian are Am7b5, BbMaj7, Cm7, Dm7, EbMaj7, F7, Gm7. Commonly used in Jazz, Metal, Experimental, Avant-Garde. Notable players include John Coltrane, Meshuggah, Dream Theater. Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz ii-V-i in minor keys where the ii chord is half-diminished.
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-H-W-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
Am7♭5 — B♭Maj7 — Cm7 — Dm7 — E♭Maj7 — F7 — Gm7
Musical Character
The only mode with a diminished 5th (b5) from the root, making its home chord a diminished triad. This instability means Locrian is almost never used as a key center — it is a tool for tension.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Metal, Experimental, Avant-Garde
Notable players: John Coltrane, Meshuggah, Dream Theater
How to Use the A Locrian Scale
Use over m7b5 (half-diminished) chords. Essential for jazz ii-V-i in minor keys where the ii chord is half-diminished.
Origin & Background
Named after the Locrians of ancient Greece. Considered 'unusable' for centuries until jazz musicians found its purpose over half-diminished chords.
How to Play A Locrian on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Locrian scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Locrian scale contains 2 flats (Bb, Eb). Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Locrian scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C, Bb-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the A Locrian scale: Am7b5 - Dm7 - EbMaj7 - Am7b5 (I-IV-V-I) or Am7b5 - BbMaj7 - Dm7 - EbMaj7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in metal contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the A Locrian scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a unstable quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Locrian is the 7th mode of the Major scale. View A Major scale
The A Locrian scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Locrian
The A Locrian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.