F# Locrian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open C tuning — fretboard diagram
F# Locrian in Open C — Notes and Intervals
The F# Locrian scale is the seventh and most unstable mode of the major scale. On Guitar, the notes are F#, G, A, B, C, D, E. 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 F# Locrian are F#m7b5, GMaj7, Am7, Bm7, CMaj7, D7, Em7. 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: F#, G, A, B, C, D, E
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
Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
Diatonic Chords
F♯m7♭5 — GMaj7 — Am7 — Bm7 — CMaj7 — D7 — Em7
About Open C Tuning
Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.
John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.
Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman
Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble
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.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- F# Locrian in Standard Tuning
- F# Locrian in Drop D
- F# Locrian in DADGAD
- F# Locrian in Open G
- F# Locrian in Baritone (B Standard)
- F# Locrian in 7-string
- F# Locrian in 8-string
- F# Locrian in Drop C
- F# Locrian in Drop B
- F# Locrian in Open D
- F# Locrian in Half Step Down
- F# Locrian in Open E
- F# Locrian in Open A
- F# Locrian in Double Drop D