The Phrygian dominant scale is a major-3rd scale with a b2 and b6, the 5th mode of harmonic minor. It sounds hot, Spanish and Middle Eastern, and it's the classic sound over a dominant chord that resolves to a minor key.
Formula
The reference key is E Phrygian dominant, the key the diagrams below use. It has the same notes as A harmonic minor, started from E.
| Degree | 1 | b2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | E | F | G# | A | B | C | D |
Steps: H W+H H W H W W. The W+H is the augmented 2nd, a step and a half, between F and G#.
Sound and character
The b2 sits a half step above the root and always wants to fall back to it. The major 3rd makes the scale a dominant sound, and the jump from b2 up to 3 gives it its exotic flavor. Over a low E, every F sounds like tension and every E like release.
Where it's used
Flamenco, Middle Eastern and klezmer music, surf guitar and metal of every kind. Play it over E7, E7(b9) and E7sus4(b9), especially when E7 goes to Am. The chords that make it sound are E (I) and F (bII), the flamenco and metal favorite E to F, plus Am (iv), Dm (vii) and G#dim.
How to move it
The root is the amber dot. To change key, slide every pattern until the amber dots land on the new root. Move everything up 2 frets for F# Phrygian dominant, or up 5 frets for A Phrygian dominant (the V of D minor).
The exercises
- Position 1 from the open low E, which is the root, up to the high A and back down.
- A short melody with the open low E on every beat: F falls to E, G# and F trade places, and it all settles on E.
Phrygian dominant is Phrygian with a major 3rd, or Mixolydian with a b2 and b6.