STRINGSCALES

F♯ phrygian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

D string: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

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

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

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F# 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:

F♯

i

F♯m
G

bII

Gmaj
A

bIII

Amaj
B

iv

Bm
C♯

v°

C♯dim
D

bVI

Dmaj
E

bvii

Em

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

Same notes, different mode

F# 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.

G lydianA mixolydianB minor · relative minorC# locrianD major · relative majorE dorian

phrygian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play F♯ phrygian on guitar

All six open strings belong to this key, yet none of them gives the tonic or the fifth, so nothing open can act as a pedal. Capo at fret 2 reads as E phrygian. Low E takes its root at fret 2, which means the E-shape barre sits two frets from the nut. Roots also fall on the 4th fret of the D string and the 9th of the A, giving the low neck two more anchors before the next box begins at fret 6.

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