A Phrygian Dominant Scale on Guitar
The A Phrygian dominant scale is A, Bb, C#, D, E, F and G. Also called Freygish or Spanish Phrygian, it combines a flat second with a major third, and that mix gives it a flamenco character.
It is the fifth mode of D harmonic minor, so it reuses those notes from a new tonic. Here the root is the open A string, and you will find it again on the 5th fret of the low E string. Start with the box shapes, then try other exotic scales built on the same ear.
Play the A phrygian dominant scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A phrygian dominant scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| D | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| F | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A phrygian dominant scale notes:
How the phrygian dominant scale is built:
The phrygian dominant scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W+H-H-W-H-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 5 of the Harmonic Minor Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Jewish Scale, Ahava Raba, Freygish and Spanish Phrygian.
A Phrygian Dominant Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the A phrygian dominant scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the phrygian dominant scale, starting from a different degree.
The phrygian dominant scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
