D Phrygian dominant scale: notes, chords and guitar positions

Scale

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R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

D Phrygian dominant

♭2 with a major 3rd. Spanish, flamenco, Middle-Eastern.

Where you hear it: Over V7(♭9) resolving to a minor i.

Key signature 2♭ (B♭ E♭)as B♭ major / G minor, plus F♯ written in

Step pattern H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W

Parent scale: G harmonic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
Compared with D major: ♭2 E → E♭, ♭6 B → B♭, ♭7 C♯ → C
Compared with D natural minor: ♭2 E → E♭, ♯3 F → F♯

Hover to compare

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

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 D Phrygian dominant

G Harmonic minor1st degree A Locrian ♮62nd degree B♭ Ionian ♯53rd degree C Dorian ♯44th degree D Phrygian dominant5th degree E♭ Lydian ♯26th degree F♯ Ultralocrian7th degree

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

D71/19
easyopen
E♭maj71/16
easyfret 11· shell
F♯dim71/4
easyfret 4
Gm(maj7)1/4
mediumfret 10
Am7♭51/14
easyfret 5· shell
B♭maj7♯51/9
easyfret 6· shell
Cm71/23
easyfret 3· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in D 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 D 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 D Phrygian dominant.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I D7

Notes: D F♯ A C

open · 1/13

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♭II E♭maj7

Notes: E♭ G B♭ D

fret 11 · 1/12

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iii° F♯dim7

Notes: F♯ A C E♭

fret 4 · 1/4

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iv Gm(maj7)

Notes: G B♭ D F♯

fret 10 · 1/4

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v° Am7♭5

Notes: A C E♭ G

fret 5 · 1/9

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♭VI+ B♭maj7♯5

Notes: B♭ D F♯ A

fret 3 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭vii Cm7

Notes: C E♭ G B♭

fret 8 · 1/10

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scale

Labels

Click

bpm

DroneE2

Drums

Bass

Colour key

R234p567

Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.

D Phrygian dominant

♭2 with a major 3rd. Spanish, flamenco, Middle-Eastern.

Where you hear it: Over V7(♭9) resolving to a minor i.

Key signature 2♭ (B♭ E♭)as B♭ major / G minor, plus F♯ written in

Step pattern H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W

Parent scale: G harmonic minor (starts on its 5th degree)
Compared with D major: ♭2 E → E♭, ♭6 B → B♭, ♭7 C♯ → C
Compared with D natural minor: ♭2 E → E♭, ♯3 F → F♯

Hover to compare

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar

R234p567

Shapes

Extra notes

Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.

Modes with the same notes as D Phrygian dominant

G Harmonic minor1st degree A Locrian ♮62nd degree B♭ Ionian ♯53rd degree C Dorian ♯44th degree D Phrygian dominant5th degree E♭ Lydian ♯26th degree F♯ Ultralocrian7th degree

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

D71/19
easyopen
E♭maj71/16
easyfret 11· shell
F♯dim71/4
easyfret 4
Gm(maj7)1/4
mediumfret 10
Am7♭51/14
easyfret 5· shell
B♭maj7♯51/9
easyfret 6· shell
Cm71/23
easyfret 3· shell

Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.

Iconic progressions in D 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 D 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 D Phrygian dominant.

Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.

I D7

Notes: D F♯ A C

open · 1/13

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭II E♭maj7

Notes: E♭ G B♭ D

fret 11 · 1/12

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iii° F♯dim7

Notes: F♯ A C E♭

fret 4 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

iv Gm(maj7)

Notes: G B♭ D F♯

fret 10 · 1/4

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

v° Am7♭5

Notes: A C E♭ G

fret 5 · 1/9

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭VI+ B♭maj7♯5

Notes: B♭ D F♯ A

fret 3 · 1/6

Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

♭vii Cm7

Notes: C E♭ G B♭

fret 8 · 1/10

Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.

Scales and modes

Colour key

D Phrygian dominant

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as D Phrygian dominant

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

Iconic progressions in D Phrygian dominant

I – ♭II – I

I – ♭vii – ♭II – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Scales and modes

Colour key

D Phrygian dominant

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar

Modes with the same notes as D Phrygian dominant

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

Iconic progressions in D Phrygian dominant

I – ♭II – I

I – ♭vii – ♭II – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

D Phrygian dominant

D Phrygian dominant on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as D Phrygian dominant

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

Iconic progressions in D Phrygian dominant

I – ♭II – I

I – ♭vii – ♭II – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour keyi

D Phrygian dominant

D Phrygian dominant on the guitari

Modes with the same notes as D Phrygian dominant

Every chord in D Phrygian dominant

Iconic progressions in D Phrygian dominant

I – ♭II – I

I – ♭vii – ♭II – I

Sus and extension chords from each chord

Colour key

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar

Colour key

D Phrygian dominant on the guitar