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G♯ phrygian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

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

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

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G# 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:

G♯

i

G♯m
A

bII

Amaj
B

bIII

Bmaj
C♯

iv

C♯m
D♯

v°

D♯dim
E

bVI

Emaj
F♯

bvii

F♯m

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

Same notes, different mode

G# 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.

A lydianB mixolydianC# minor · relative minorD# locrianE major · relative majorF# dorian

phrygian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

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

How to play G♯ phrygian on guitar

Four open strings fall in this key, both E strings among them, but the root and fifth are not on the list, so a pedal has to be fretted. Closest root to the nut is fret 1 on the G string. Capo at fret 1 gives G phrygian. Low E and high E both hold a root at fret 4, letting the E-shape barre answer at the same fret.

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