Phrygian-Dominant

The Phrygian-dominant scale is a Phrygian mode with a raised (major) 3rd. This is also called the Spanish Phrygian, major Phrygian, or Spanish Flamenco scale. The notes, tones, and intervallic structure are shown below based on E.

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E Phrygian-dominant, patterns 1 – 5

The Phrygian-dominant scale has five “positional” patterns on the neck. The easiest way to learn them is to take the Phrygian mode and raise all the minor 3rds one fret. Of course, this approach assumes you already know the Phrygian mode well. If not, go back and review page 38 first. The major 3rds are shown in grey, below.

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Fingering: Pattern 1 is in open (first) position. Pattern 2 is in second position (third on strings 1 and 2). Pattern 3 is in fifth position (stretch back a fret and slide up on strings 1, 3, and 6). Pattern 4 is in seventh position. Pattern 5 is in tenth position (ninth on strings 3 and 4, slide back up to tenth on string 2).

The astute guitarist will recognize that these patterns are the same as A harmonic minor, but with different roots and anchor chords. This is because the Phrygian-dominant scale happens to be a mode of harmonic minor (the fifth mode, to be precise).

• Listen for the interesting mix of the bright major 3rds (in grey) against the other minor intervals. The anchor chords are E major.

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Other tonalities

Below the Phrygian-dominant scale is shown in A with the appropriate anchor chords. Shift the patterns to play in other tonalities as well.

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Three notes per string

Phrygian-dominant uses the same patterns and sequence as harmonic minor (page 48), but with different roots. The shape shown on page 48 as “pattern 5” becomes pattern 1 here. Shift it to begin on the sixth string root. In this case, to play G Phrygian-dominant, we’ll start on G at the third fret.

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continue with page 48 patterns 1, 2, 3, and 4 as 4, 5, 6, and 7 (up eight frets)…