E Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The E Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: E, F, G♯, A, B, C and D (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 | E | F | G♯ | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 E 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; E (E) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (E) | Ehome | E7home |
| ♭2 (F) | Fcolour | Fmaj7colour |
| 3 (G♯) | G♯dimthe edge | – |
| 4 (A) | Amthe ache | – |
| 5 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
| ♭6 (C) | Caugcinematic | – |
| ♭7 (D) | Dmsoft fall | Dm7soft fall |
Scales with the same notes
It has the same notes as the A harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, E.
Questions
What notes are in the E Phrygian dominant scale?
E, F, G♯, A, B, C and D. 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 E Phrygian dominant scale?
The chords made only of its notes: E, F, G♯dim, Am, Bdim, Caug and Dm, and as seventh chords E7, Fmaj7, Bm7♭5 and Dm7. E is home: E is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The Phrygian dominant scale in every key
Other scales in E
E majorE minorE minor pentatonicE major pentatonicE bluesE DorianE MixolydianE LydianE PhrygianE harmonic minorE 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.