G Phrygian dominant scale on mandolin
The G Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: G, A♭, B, C, D, E♭ and F (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 | G | A♭ | B | C | D | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 G 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; G (G) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (G) | Ghome | G7home |
| ♭2 (A♭) | A♭colour | A♭maj7colour |
| 3 (B) | Bdimthe edge | – |
| 4 (C) | Cmthe ache | – |
| 5 (D) | Ddimthe edge | Dm7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (E♭) | E♭augcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (F) | Fmsoft fall | Fm7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the C harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, G.
Questions
What notes are in the G Phrygian dominant scale?
G, A♭, B, C, D, E♭ and F. 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 G Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: G, A♭, Bdim, Cm, Ddim, E♭aug and Fm, and as seventh chords G7, A♭maj7, Dm7♭5 and Fm7. G is home: G is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in G
G majorG minorG minor pentatonicG major pentatonicG bluesG DorianG MixolydianG LydianG PhrygianG harmonic minorG melodic minor
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.