STRINGSCALES

E♭ phrygian dominant Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

A string: Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

D string: Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

B string: Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

High E string: Fb, G, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

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Eb 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:

E♭

I

E♭maj
F♭

bII

F♭maj
G

iii°

Gdim
A♭

iv

A♭m
B♭

v°

B♭dim
C♭

bVI+

C♭aug
D♭

bvii

D♭m

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

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

Fb lydian #9G ultralocrianAb harmonic minorBb locrian 6Cb major augmentedDb dorian #4

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

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

How to play E♭ phrygian dominant on guitar

Both E strings ring Fb open, the flat second, which puts that colour tone on the two outer strings for free. Open G and B belong as well, third and sixth, though none of the four open tones is the root or fifth, so a pedal is out. Fret 1 on the D string is the closest root to the nut, and fret 11 on the low E the lowest-pitched. Capo fret 1 and D shapes work.

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