Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A Phrygian dominant
♭2 with a major 3rd. Spanish, flamenco, Middle-Eastern.
Where you hear it: Over V7(♭9) resolving to a minor i.
Step pattern H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W
- Parent scale: D harmonic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
- Compared with A major: ♭2 B → B♭, ♭6 F♯ → F, ♭7 G♯ → G
- Compared with A natural minor: ♭2 B → B♭, ♯3 C → C♯
A Phrygian dominant on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭2 3 5 ♭6: playedother notes of Phrygian dominant: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A Phrygian dominant
Every chord in A Phrygian dominant
- A71/19easyopen
- B♭maj71/16easyfret 6· shell
- C♯dim71/4easyfret 11
- Dm(maj7)1/5mediumfret 5
- Em7♭51/14easyfret 2
- Fmaj7♯51/9easyfret 1· shell
- Gm71/23easyfret 3· shell
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A Phrygian dominant
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
I – ♭II – I
A major tonic and the chord a half step above. This is the Spanish and Middle-Eastern sound.
I – ♭vii – ♭II – I
Home, the minor ♭vii, then the half-step ♭II, back to I. The ♭II falls back onto the major tonic.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From A you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A Phrygian dominant.
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Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.