STRINGSCALES

B♭ phrygian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

A string: Bb, Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

B string: Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

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Bb phrygian dominant

The phrygian dominant scale, the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, is phrygian with a major 3rd: flat 2nd, bright 3rd, and the augmented 2nd between them. It is the definitive flamenco and Middle Eastern guitar sound, and metal's favorite exotic mode. Over a dominant chord resolving to minor, or a static E-style vamp, it is unmistakable in one bar.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

I

B♭maj
C♭

bII

C♭maj
D

iii°

Ddim
E♭

iv

E♭m
F

v°

Fdim
G♭

bVI+

G♭aug
A♭

bvii

A♭m

Characteristic note: D (natural 3), the major third over a phrygian b2 that creates the Spanish sound.

Same notes, different mode

Bb phrygian dominant 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.

Cb lydian #9D ultralocrianEb harmonic minorF locrian 6Gb major augmentedAb dorian #4

phrygian dominant in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Hold the major 3rd (D) against the flat 2nd (B): that augmented-2nd clash is the flamenco and klezmer sound; do not smooth it out.
  • Vamp Bb major to the major chord on bII (B) and back; that two-chord Andalusian cadence is the scale's natural habitat.
  • Over a V7 chord resolving to minor, Bb phrygian dominant is the classic choice; land on the 3rd of the target minor chord.
  • For metal, palm-mute the root and accent bII (B), III and bVI (Gb); the scale riffs itself.

How to play B♭ phrygian dominant on guitar

Open B string sounds Cb, the flat second, and the open D adds the third, so a pair of open strings belongs here. Neither one is the tonic or the fifth, which means a pedal is off the table. Nearest the nut is the A string root at fret 1, while fret 6 on the low E is the lowest. A capo at fret 1 makes A fingerings fit, letting five flats stay unread. Ebm covers the iv.

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