B Phrygian: Notes and the Open B String
B, C, D, E, F#, G and A are the notes of the B Phrygian scale. The open B string rings the root, with the 2nd fret of the A string and the 7th fret of the low E string as other anchors.
G major holds the same seven notes, which makes B Phrygian a handy mode over a static B minor sound that wants a darker colour. See how the modes fit together before you move on.
Play the B phrygian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the B phrygian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | Root | 0 |
| C | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| D | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| E | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| F# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| A | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
B phrygian scale notes:
How the phrygian scale is built:
The phrygian scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-W-W-H-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 3 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
B Phrygian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
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 B phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as B Phrygian
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| C Lydian | b2 | Lydian Scale |
| D Mixolydian | b3 | Mixolydian |
| E Minor | 4 | Minor Scale |
| F# Locrian | 5 | Locrian Scale |
| G Major | b6 | Major Scale |
| A Dorian | b7 | Dorian Scale |
Other scales on B
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- B Indian: drops the b3 and b7
- B Minor: 2 instead of b2
- B Locrian: b5 instead of 5
- B Phrygian Dominant: 3 instead of b3
- B Dorian b2: 6 instead of b6
The phrygian scale in other keys
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
