E Phrygian: The Classic Open Position Mode
E, F, G, A, B, C and D make up the E Phrygian scale, the first example most guitarists meet. Open low E and open high E give the root at both ends of the neck, and the F beside it supplies the dark half-step.
Every note is also in C major, played here from its third degree. Beyond the open position, the root returns on the 7th fret of the A string. If you want a second way to see the mode, read how modes work on guitar.
Play the E phrygian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the E phrygian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | Root | 0 |
| F | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| G | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| A | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| C | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| D | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
E 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.
E Phrygian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
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 E phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as E 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F Lydian | b2 | Lydian Scale |
| G Mixolydian | b3 | Mixolydian |
| A Minor | 4 | Minor Scale |
| B Locrian | 5 | Locrian Scale |
| C Major | b6 | Major Scale |
| D Dorian | b7 | Dorian Scale |
Other scales on E
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- E Indian: drops the b3 and b7
- E Minor: 2 instead of b2
- E Locrian: b5 instead of 5
- E Phrygian Dominant: 3 instead of b3
- E 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
