A Phrygian dominant scale on banjo
The A Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F and G (1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7). The fifth mode of harmonic minor: a flat 2nd with a major 3rd. The flamenco, Middle Eastern and metal sound; play it over the V7 chord of a minor key, such as E7 in A minor.
| Note | A | B♭ | C♯ | D | E | F | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | ♭2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | half | 1½ | half | whole | half | whole | whole |
3 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the A Phrygian dominant scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; A (A) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (A) | Ahome | A7home |
| ♭2 (B♭) | B♭colour | B♭maj7colour |
| 3 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | – |
| 4 (D) | Dmthe ache | – |
| 5 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (F) | Faugcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (G) | Gmsoft fall | Gm7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the D harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, A.
Questions
What notes are in the A Phrygian dominant scale?
A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F and G. Its intervals from the root are 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are H W+H H W H W W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the A Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: A, B♭, C♯dim, Dm, Edim, Faug and Gm, and as seventh chords A7, B♭maj7, Em7♭5 and Gm7. A is home: A is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in A
A majorA minorA minor pentatonicA major pentatonicA bluesA DorianA MixolydianA LydianA PhrygianA harmonic minorA melodic minor
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: banjo scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and mandolin.