STRINGSCALES

A phrygian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

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A phrygian

The phrygian mode is minor with a flat 2nd, the third mode of the major scale. That half step above the root gives it a dark Spanish and Middle Eastern color: flamenco resolves onto it constantly, and metal riffs on the flat 2nd for menace. Try vamping between the root chord and the chord a half step up to hear its signature cadence.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

i

Am
B♭

bII

B♭maj
C

bIII

Cmaj
D

iv

Dm
E

v°

Edim
F

bVI

Fmaj
G

bvii

Gm

Characteristic note: Bb (b2), the dark half step above the root that defines the phrygian sound.

Same notes, different mode

A phrygian uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Bb lydianC mixolydianD minor · relative minorE locrianF major · relative majorG dorian

phrygian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The flat 2nd (Bb) is the identity: open and close phrases with the bII (Bb) to root half step.
  • Vamp the root chord against the major chord a half step up (built on bII (Bb)); that two-chord move is instant flamenco in A.
  • For metal riffing in A phrygian, chug the open root and punctuate with the bII (Bb) and flat 6th (F) for maximum darkness.
  • If the backing has a major 3rd, shift to A phrygian dominant; keep everything else and only the 3rd changes.

How to play A phrygian on guitar

Open A is the tonic and both E strings ring its fifth, so a root-and-fifth pedal comes free in open position. Five open strings belong to the key. Low E gives its root at fret 5, so the two barre shapes bracket the neck at fret 5 and fret 12. One flat in the signature, and roots continue at fret 7 on the D string plus fret 10 on the B.

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