C Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The C Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: C, D♭, E, F, G, A♭ and B♭ (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 | C | D♭ | E | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 C 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; C (C) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Chome | C7home |
| ♭2 (D♭) | D♭colour | D♭maj7colour |
| 3 (E) | Edimthe edge | – |
| 4 (F) | Fmthe ache | – |
| 5 (G) | Gdimthe edge | Gm7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (A♭) | A♭augcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (B♭) | B♭msoft fall | B♭m7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the F harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, C.
Questions
What notes are in the C Phrygian dominant scale?
C, D♭, E, F, G, A♭ and B♭. 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 C Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: C, D♭, Edim, Fm, Gdim, A♭aug and B♭m, and as seventh chords C7, D♭maj7, Gm7♭5 and B♭m7. C is home: C is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC 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.