STRINGSCALES

D phrygian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

B string: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

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

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D 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:

D

i

Dm
E♭

bII

E♭maj
F

bIII

Fmaj
G

iv

Gm
A

v°

Adim
B♭

bVI

B♭maj
C

bvii

Cm

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

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

Eb lydianF mixolydianG minor · relative minorA locrianBb major · relative majorC dorian

phrygian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play D phrygian on guitar

Open D is the root and open A the fifth, so a drone is available before anything gets fretted. Open G adds the fourth on top of that. Lowest root sits at fret 10 on the low E string, which puts the E-shape barre at the same place. Two flats cover the spelling, and with no functional dominant the bII EbM carries the strongest pull toward Dm.

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