A sharp Locrian scale on cavaquinho
The A sharp Locrian scale has 7 notes: A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ (A sharp, B, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, and G sharp).
- A♯ A sharp 1
- B ♭2
- C♯ C sharp ♭3
- D♯ D sharp 4
- E ♭5
- F♯ F sharp ♭6
- G♯ G sharp ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (A♯) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 6 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯)
- string 3: 4 (B), 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯)
- string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯)
- string 1: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯)
Position 7 (frets 6 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 6 (G♯), 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 8 (D♯), 9 (E)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 9 (G♯)
- string 1: 8 (A♯), 9 (B)
Position 1 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (A♯), 9 (B), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 8 (D♯), 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 9 (G♯), 11 (A♯), 12 (B)
- string 1: 11 (C♯)
Position 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
- string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯)
- string 2: 11 (A♯), 12 (B)
- string 1: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯)
Position 3 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 13 (D♯), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 13 (G♯), 15 (A♯)
- string 2: 12 (B), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 13 (D♯), 14 (E)
Position 4 (frets 13 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 13 (D♯), 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 13 (G♯), 15 (A♯), 16 (B)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 16 (D♯), 17 (E)
- string 1: 16 (F♯)
Position 5 (frets 13 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 13 (G♯), 15 (A♯), 16 (B)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 16 (D♯), 17 (E)
- string 1: 16 (F♯)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A sharp).
On the cavaquinho the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- A♯
- H
- B
- W
- C♯
- W
- D♯
- H
- E
- W
- F♯
- W
- G♯
- W
- A♯
Degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · ♭6 · ♭7. Steps: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the Locrian scale
The most unstable mode, with a diminished 5th. Used over half-diminished chords.
Harmonized scale (chords in the key)
The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.
Scales with the same notes
More A sharp scales
- Major (B♭)
- Natural minor (B♭)
- Harmonic minor (B♭)
- Melodic minor (B♭)
- Major pentatonic (B♭)
- Minor pentatonic (B♭)
- Blues (B♭)
- Major blues (B♭)
- Dorian (B♭)
- Phrygian (B♭)
- Lydian (B♭)
- Mixolydian (B♭)
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião) (B♭)
- Phrygian dominant (B♭)
- Whole-tone (B♭)
- Diminished (whole-half) (B♭)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole) (B♭)
Locrian in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A sharp Locrian scale?
The notes of the A sharp Locrian scale are A sharp, B, C sharp, D sharp, E, F sharp, and G sharp. The root, degree 1, is A sharp.
What is the formula of the A sharp Locrian scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · ♭6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: H – W – W – H – W – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the A sharp Locrian scale on cavaquinho?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A sharp). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the A sharp Locrian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: A♯°, B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m.