When you begin to learn guitar scales, you learn how to advance your guitar playing. Rock guitar players, as well as jazz guitar players, who learn the music theory behind guitar scales really sound better than those stuck in the blues box. They sound more fluid, more dexterous, and more professional. One way that you as a guitar player who is wanting to learn guitar scales can take your guitar playing to another level is through the learning of modes. Modes are derivatives of "straight" guitar scales (although when you get advanced enough you understand that "straight" guitar scales in and of themselves are modes, too). When you learn guitar scales and modes at the same time, you give yourself a much greater base of knowledge from which to construct songs and solos.
One of the guitar modes that you need to learn is the Locrian Mode. The Locrian Mode is very similar to the Phrygian Mode, which is yet another guitar mode. However, when you play in the Locrian Mode, you play the Phrygian Mode except that you play one note differently. In addition, especially for beginner and intermediate guitar players, it's important to note that you will start and end your solo on a different note than you would if you were playing in Phrygian.
Playing in the Locrian Mode, to put it simply, entails starting and ending a solo or lead break on the 7th note of the "normal" scale. This is the scale that indicates the key that you're playing in. So, if you were playing in the key of G, and you desire to play a solo in Locrian, you'll begin and end the solo on the F note. It doesn't matter which octave either note is, it just matters that your very first and very last notes are each an F.
Playing in F Locrian mode is not the same thing as playing in the F major scale. It also means playing in the key of G in a way that is different than it would be if you simply played G "straight" or, that is, G Ionian.
Advanced guitar players love understanding the intervalic relationship between the notes in a mode, as this allows for deeper understanding of how to use the mode. The intervals for the Locrian Mode go like this Root, flatted 2nd , flatted 3rd ,major 4th ,flatted 5th , flatted 6th, flatted 7th . So to play F Locrian in the G major key, the scale that you would use would go F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F3'.
If you played B Locrian, you would play in the key of C but give the "sound and feel" of a B scale. You would "think in" the series that starts and ends with B and B', but they would all be notes from the C major key (and thus scale). Imagine how creative you can get with that!
Imagine if you played the B Locrian mode (or "scale") over top a chord progression in the key of B. You would give a very different feel to the song or piece.
In reality, the Locrian Mode doesn't get used that much by guitar players. The Locrian Mode may sound too much like the Phrygian Mode, which is one of the most popular guitar modes. Other guitar players think that the Locrian Mode sounds too suggestive of the "straight" key scale.
So when you set out to learn guitar scales, keep in mind that the Locrian Mode gives you access to some different sounds than you would be able to conjure by "playing it straight". When you learn guitar scales, don't neglect the Locrian Mode.
One of the guitar modes that you need to learn is the Locrian Mode. The Locrian Mode is very similar to the Phrygian Mode, which is yet another guitar mode. However, when you play in the Locrian Mode, you play the Phrygian Mode except that you play one note differently. In addition, especially for beginner and intermediate guitar players, it's important to note that you will start and end your solo on a different note than you would if you were playing in Phrygian.
Playing in the Locrian Mode, to put it simply, entails starting and ending a solo or lead break on the 7th note of the "normal" scale. This is the scale that indicates the key that you're playing in. So, if you were playing in the key of G, and you desire to play a solo in Locrian, you'll begin and end the solo on the F note. It doesn't matter which octave either note is, it just matters that your very first and very last notes are each an F.
Playing in F Locrian mode is not the same thing as playing in the F major scale. It also means playing in the key of G in a way that is different than it would be if you simply played G "straight" or, that is, G Ionian.
Advanced guitar players love understanding the intervalic relationship between the notes in a mode, as this allows for deeper understanding of how to use the mode. The intervals for the Locrian Mode go like this Root, flatted 2nd , flatted 3rd ,major 4th ,flatted 5th , flatted 6th, flatted 7th . So to play F Locrian in the G major key, the scale that you would use would go F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F3'.
If you played B Locrian, you would play in the key of C but give the "sound and feel" of a B scale. You would "think in" the series that starts and ends with B and B', but they would all be notes from the C major key (and thus scale). Imagine how creative you can get with that!
Imagine if you played the B Locrian mode (or "scale") over top a chord progression in the key of B. You would give a very different feel to the song or piece.
In reality, the Locrian Mode doesn't get used that much by guitar players. The Locrian Mode may sound too much like the Phrygian Mode, which is one of the most popular guitar modes. Other guitar players think that the Locrian Mode sounds too suggestive of the "straight" key scale.
So when you set out to learn guitar scales, keep in mind that the Locrian Mode gives you access to some different sounds than you would be able to conjure by "playing it straight". When you learn guitar scales, don't neglect the Locrian Mode.
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