Ukulele · phrygian dominant

F♯ Phrygian dominant scale on ukulele

The F♯ Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: F♯, G, A♯, B, C♯, D and E (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.

The notes of the F♯ Phrygian dominant scale
NoteF♯GA♯BC♯DE
Interval1 (root)♭2345♭6♭7
Step to the nexthalf1½halfwholehalfwholewhole
Make a practice sheet of it
The whole neckevery F♯ Phrygian dominant scale note from the nut to fret 15, the root a diamond
GCEA135791215open♭2345♭6♭7R♭235♭6♭7R♭2345♭6♭7R♭2345♭6♭7R♭2345♭6♭7R♭234

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.

Open positionfrets 0–4
GCEA13open♭2345♭6♭7♭7R♭2345
Frets 5–9frets 5–9
GCEA5795♭6♭7R♭2345♭6♭7R
Frets 9–13frets 9–13
GCEA912♭7R♭23455♭6♭7R♭23

Chords that go with the F♯ 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; F♯ (F♯) is where it sounds at home.

On theChordSeventh chord
root (F♯)F♯homeF♯7home
♭2 (G)GcolourGmaj7colour
3 (A♯)A♯dimthe edge–
4 (B)Bmthe ache–
5 (C♯)C♯dimthe edgeC♯m7♭5the edge
♭6 (D)Daugcinematic–
♭7 (E)Emsoft fallEm7soft fall

Scales with the same notes

It has the same notes as the B harmonic minor scale, started from its fifth note, F♯.

Questions

What notes are in the F♯ Phrygian dominant scale?

F♯, G, A♯, B, C♯, D and E. 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 F♯ Phrygian dominant scale?

The chords made only of its notes: F♯, G, A♯dim, Bm, C♯dim, Daug and Em, and as seventh chords F♯7, Gmaj7, C♯m7♭5 and Em7. F♯ is home: F♯ is the chord it sounds most settled over.

The Phrygian dominant scale in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

Other scales in F♯

F♯ majorF♯ minorF♯ minor pentatonicF♯ major pentatonicF♯ bluesF♯ DorianF♯ MixolydianF♯ LydianF♯ PhrygianF♯ harmonic minorF♯ melodic minor

Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: ukulele scales. This scale on guitar, bass, mandolin and banjo.