Phrygian scale · 7 notes
G Phrygian scale on guitar
The G Phrygian scale has 7 notes: G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ and F. A minor scale with a ♭2: dark, Spanish-tinged and heavy.
Notes
- G
- A♭
- B♭
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
Formula
1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Steps
H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Sound
Dark, tense and Spanish-flavoured
G Phrygian on the whole fretboard
Every G Phrygian 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 as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from G, the G Phrygian scale is built from these intervals. It contains 3 flats (A♭, B♭ and E♭). Compared with G minor, it has A♭ (♭2) instead of A.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root | 0 |
| ♭2 | A♭ | minor 2nd | 1 |
| ♭3 | B♭ | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 4 | C | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | D | perfect 5th | 7 |
| ♭6 | E♭ | minor 6th | 8 |
| ♭7 | F | minor 7th | 10 |
Chords in G Phrygian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to G Phrygian: any of them will sound at home under a melody in G Phrygian.
- iGmG · B♭ · DGm7
- ♭IIA♭A♭ · C · E♭A♭maj7
- ♭IIIB♭B♭ · D · FB♭7
- ivCmC · E♭ · GCm7
- v°D°D · F · A♭Dm7♭5
- ♭VIE♭E♭ · G · B♭E♭maj7
- ♭viiFmF · A♭ · CFm7
Progressions to try
- Gm – A♭ i–♭II · the Phrygian half-step
- Gm – A♭ – B♭ – A♭ i–♭II–♭III–♭II
- Gm – Fm – E♭ – A♭ i–♭vii–♭VI–♭II
How to use G Phrygian
Reach for it over metal riffs, flamenco-flavoured passages, and vamps where the chord a half step above the root keeps returning. Its sound is dark, tense and Spanish-flavoured.
Tip: Riff on the root and the ♭2 on your lowest string. That half-step grind is the Phrygian sound in two notes.
- G Phrygian contains exactly the notes of E♭ major, played from its third note, G. See E♭ major.
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. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
G Phrygian scale FAQ
What notes are in the G Phrygian scale?
The G Phrygian scale has 7 notes: G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ and F. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. It contains 3 flats (A♭, B♭ and E♭).
What chords are in G Phrygian?
Harmonising the G Phrygian scale in thirds gives Gm (i), A♭ (♭II), B♭ (♭III), Cm (iv), D° (v°), E♭ (♭VI) and Fm (♭vii).
Where do you play the G Phrygian 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?
G Phrygian contains exactly the notes of E♭ major, played from its third note, G.