Phrygian

The Phrygian mode is a natural minor scale with a flatted (minor) second step, which adds a distinctly Spanish flavor. It is common in metal and alternative rock. The notes, tones, and intervallic structure are shown below, based on E.

E Phrygian, patterns 1 – 5

The five positional patterns of the Phrygian mode are shown below. The pentatonic boxes contained within the patterns are shown in solid dots with added tones ♭2 and ♭6 shown in grey dots. Taken together, they form the full diatonic Phrygian mode.

Fingering: Pattern 1 is in open (first) position. Pattern 2 is in second position (third for strings 1 and 2). Pattern 3 is in fifth position (stretch back a fret on string 3). Pattern 4 is in seventh position. Pattern 5 is in tenth position (ninth for strings 3 and 4).

The astute guitarist may notice that E Phrygian uses the patterns of C major/A minor (but with roots on E). Nevertheless, it is best to learn each mode as a scale in its own right, with its parallel, “superimposed” pentatonic and anchor chords. This will also allow for quick and easy parallel modality changes—for example, changing between E natural minor and E Phrygian “on the fly” during a guitar solo—using a relative pattern will not.

Other Tonalities

Here is the A Phrygian mode along with Am anchor chords. Shift this into other keys as well.

Three notes per string

You should already know the diatonic three-note-per-string patterns and sequence (pages 28 and 32), so all you really need here is the correct starting point. The shape shown on page 32 as “pattern 3” becomes pattern 1 for Phrygian. Shift it to the sixth string root. In this case, to play G Phrygian, we’ll start with this pattern on G at the third fret and continue from there.

continue with page 32 patterns 6, 7, 1, and 2 as 4, 5, 6, and 7 (down four frets)...