Root & scale

A phrygian

A

i

Am
B♭

bII

B♭maj
C

bIII

Cmaj
D

iv

Dm
E

Edim
F

bVI

Fmaj
G

bvii

Gm

Fretboard positions

select a scale fingering system to highlight fretting positions

E4
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
B3
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
G3
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
D3
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
A2
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
E2
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
B
C
D♭
D
E♭
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Listen to the A phrygian scale

bpm: 120
start at and

How to use the A phrygian scale

The Phrygian scale is a seven-note scale with a minor second, giving it a Spanish or Eastern flavor. It's often used in flamenco, metal, and classical music.

tip
  • The Phrygian mode has a dark, exotic sound due to its flat 2nd (bII). It’s great for creating tension and moodiness in metal, flamenco, and Latin music.
  • Use the Phrygian scale when soloing over minor chords to give your playing an Eastern or Spanish flavor.
  • Focus on the flat 2nd (bII) and flat 5th (bV) when improvising in the Phrygian mode to emphasize its distinct sound.
  • In metal and heavy rock, the Phrygian scale works well over power chords or modal riffs, providing a sinister, dark tone.
  • Experiment with using the Phrygian mode to add tension before resolving back to a major or natural minor scale, creating dynamic contrasts in your music.