D Phrygian dominant scale on banjo
The D Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭ and C (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 | D | E♭ | F♯ | G | A | B♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 D 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; D (D) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dhome | D7home |
| ♭2 (E♭) | E♭colour | E♭maj7colour |
| 3 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | – |
| 4 (G) | Gmthe ache | – |
| 5 (A) | Adimthe edge | Am7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (B♭) | B♭augcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (C) | Cmsoft fall | Cm7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the G harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, D.
Questions
What notes are in the D Phrygian dominant scale?
D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭ and C. 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 D Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: D, E♭, F♯dim, Gm, Adim, B♭aug and Cm, and as seventh chords D7, E♭maj7, Am7♭5 and Cm7. D is home: D is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in D
D majorD minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD harmonic minorD 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.