Phrygian Dominant scale · 7 notes
G♯ Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The G♯ Phrygian dominant scale (G sharp Phrygian dominant scale) has 7 notes: G♯, A, B♯, C♯, D♯, E and F♯. Phrygian with a major 3rd: the flamenco and Middle-Eastern sound, and a metal staple. You may also see it written as A♭ Phrygian dominant, but G♯ is the usual spelling because it needs fewer accidentals.
Notes
- G♯
- A
- B♯
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
Formula
1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Steps
H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W
Sound
Exotic, Spanish and Middle-Eastern
G♯ Phrygian dominant on the whole fretboard
Every G♯ Phrygian dominant note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, G♯, 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
G♯ at fret 4. 3rd position: frets 3–7.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of G♯ Phrygian dominant as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from G♯, the G♯ Phrygian dominant scale is built from these intervals. It contains 5 sharps (G♯, B♯, C♯, D♯ and F♯). Compared with G♯ Phrygian, it has B♯ (3) instead of B.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G♯ | root | 0 |
| ♭2 | A | minor 2nd | 1 |
| 3 | B♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| 4 | C♯ | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | D♯ | perfect 5th | 7 |
| ♭6 | E | minor 6th | 8 |
| ♭7 | F♯ | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in G♯ Phrygian dominant
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to G♯ Phrygian dominant: any of them will sound at home under a melody in G♯ Phrygian dominant.
- IG♯G♯ · B♯ · D♯G♯7
- ♭IIAA · C♯ · EAmaj7
- iii°B♯°B♯ · D♯ · F♯B♯°7
- ivC♯mC♯ · E · G♯C♯m(maj7)
- v°D♯°D♯ · F♯ · AD♯m7♭5
- ♭VI+E+E · G♯ · B♯E+maj7
- ♭viiF♯mF♯ · A · C♯F♯m7
Progressions to try
- G♯ – A I–♭II · flamenco vamp
- G♯ – F♯m – A – G♯ I–♭vii–♭II–I
How to use G♯ 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.
- G♯ Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of C♯ harmonic minor: the same seven notes, starting from G♯. See C♯ harmonic minor.
Where to find G♯ on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every G♯ between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with G♯ |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 4 |
| B (2nd) | 9 |
| G (3rd) | 1 |
| D (4th) | 6 |
| A (5th) | 11 |
| Low E (6th) | 4 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as G♯ Phrygian dominant. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
G♯ Phrygian dominant scale FAQ
What notes are in the G♯ Phrygian dominant scale?
The G♯ Phrygian dominant scale has 7 notes: G♯, A, B♯, C♯, D♯, E and F♯. Its formula is 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. It contains 5 sharps (G♯, B♯, C♯, D♯ and F♯).
What chords are in G♯ Phrygian dominant?
Harmonising the G♯ Phrygian dominant scale in thirds gives G♯ (I), A (♭II), B♯° (iii°), C♯m (iv), D♯° (v°), E+ (♭VI+) and F♯m (♭vii).
Where do you play the G♯ Phrygian dominant scale on guitar?
The root, G♯, is at fret 4 on the low E string and fret 11 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 3–7, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Which scales share the same notes as G♯ Phrygian dominant?
G♯ Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of C♯ harmonic minor: the same seven notes, starting from G♯.