B Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The B Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: B, C, D♯, E, F♯, G and A (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 | B | C | D♯ | E | F♯ | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | ♭2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | half | 1½ | half | whole | half | whole | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the B 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; B (B) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (B) | Bhome | B7home |
| ♭2 (C) | Ccolour | Cmaj7colour |
| 3 (D♯) | D♯dimthe edge | – |
| 4 (E) | Emthe ache | – |
| 5 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | F♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (G) | Gaugcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (A) | Amsoft fall | Am7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the E harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, B.
Questions
What notes are in the B Phrygian dominant scale?
B, C, D♯, E, F♯, G and A. 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 B Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: B, C, D♯dim, Em, F♯dim, Gaug and Am, and as seventh chords B7, Cmaj7, F♯m7♭5 and Am7. B is home: B is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in B
B majorB minorB minor pentatonicB major pentatonicB bluesB DorianB MixolydianB LydianB PhrygianB harmonic minorB melodic minor
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.