Phrygian Dominant scale · 7 notes
G Phrygian dominant scale on guitar
The G 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.
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 3. 2nd position: frets 2–6.
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 2 flats (A♭ and E♭). 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.
- IGG · B · DG7
- ♭IIA♭A♭ · C · E♭A♭maj7
- iii°B°B · D · FB°7
- ivCmC · E♭ · GCm(maj7)
- v°D°D · F · A♭Dm7♭5
- ♭VI+E♭+E♭ · G · BE♭+maj7
- ♭viiFmF · A♭ · CFm7
Progressions to try
- G – A♭ I–♭II · flamenco vamp
- G – Fm – 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) | 3 |
| B (2nd) | 8 |
| G (3rd) | 0, 12 |
| D (4th) | 5 |
| A (5th) | 10 |
| Low E (6th) | 3 |
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 2 flats (A♭ and E♭).
What chords are in G Phrygian dominant?
Harmonising the G Phrygian dominant scale in thirds gives G (I), A♭ (♭II), B° (iii°), Cm (iv), D° (v°), E♭+ (♭VI+) and Fm (♭vii).
Where do you play the G Phrygian dominant scale on guitar?
The root, G, is at fret 3 on the low E string and fret 10 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 2–6, 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.