Phrygian Dominant scale · 7 notes
E Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The E Phrygian dominant scale has 7 notes: E, F, G♯, A, B, C and D. Phrygian with a major 3rd: the flamenco and Middle-Eastern sound, and a metal staple.
Notes
- E
- F
- G♯
- A
- B
- C
- D
Formula
1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Steps
H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W
Sound
Exotic, Spanish and Middle-Eastern
E Phrygian dominant on the whole fretboard
Every E Phrygian dominant note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, E, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
E at fret 0. Open position: frets 0–4.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of E Phrygian dominant as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from E, the E Phrygian dominant scale is built from these intervals. It contains 1 sharp (G♯). Compared with E Phrygian, it has G♯ (3) instead of G.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root | 0 |
| ♭2 | F | minor 2nd | 1 |
| 3 | G♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | A | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th | 7 |
| ♭6 | C | minor 6th | 8 |
| ♭7 | D | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in E Phrygian dominant
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to E Phrygian dominant: any of them will sound at home under a melody in E Phrygian dominant.
- IEE · G♯ · BE7
- ♭IIFF · A · CFmaj7
- iii°G♯°G♯ · B · DG♯°7
- ivAmA · C · EAm(maj7)
- v°B°B · D · FBm7♭5
- ♭VI+C+C · E · G♯C+maj7
- ♭viiDmD · F · ADm7
Progressions to try
- E – F I–♭II · flamenco vamp
- E – Dm – F – E I–♭vii–♭II–I
How to use E Phrygian dominant
Reach for it over the V7 chord of a minor key, flamenco, metal and Middle-Eastern-flavoured melodies. Its sound is exotic, Spanish and Middle-Eastern.
Tip: Over the V7 in a minor key (E7 in A minor), E Phrygian dominant uses exactly the notes of A harmonic minor.
- E Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of A harmonic minor: the same seven notes, starting from E. See A harmonic minor.
Where to find E on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every E between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with E |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 0, 12 |
| B (2nd) | 5 |
| G (3rd) | 9 |
| D (4th) | 2 |
| A (5th) | 7 |
| Low E (6th) | 0, 12 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as E Phrygian dominant. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
E Phrygian dominant scale FAQ
What notes are in the E Phrygian dominant scale?
The E Phrygian dominant scale has 7 notes: E, F, G♯, A, B, C and D. Its formula is 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. It contains 1 sharp (G♯).
What chords are in E Phrygian dominant?
Harmonising the E Phrygian dominant scale in thirds gives E (I), F (♭II), G♯° (iii°), Am (iv), B° (v°), C+ (♭VI+) and Dm (♭vii).
Where do you play the E Phrygian dominant scale on guitar?
The root, E, is at fret 0 on the low E string and fret 7 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 0–4, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as E Phrygian dominant?
E Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of A harmonic minor: the same seven notes, starting from E.