Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Scale
D Phrygian Dominant Scale
Exotic, fiery and dramatic. The flat second combined with a major third produces the classic flamenco and Middle Eastern sound.
- 7 notes
- 1 ♯, 2 ♭
- exotic
1Composition: what it contains
D – E♭ – F♯ – G – A – B♭ – C
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W
- Number of notes
- 7
- Sharps and flats
- 1 ♯, 2 ♭
- Also called
- Spanish Phrygian, Freygish, Hijaz (approximately), fifth mode of harmonic minor
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | unison | 0 |
| ♭2 | E♭ | minor second | 1 |
| 3 | F♯ | major third | 4 |
| 4 | G | perfect fourth | 5 |
| 5 | A | perfect fifth | 7 |
| ♭6 | B♭ | minor sixth | 8 |
| ♭7 | C | minor seventh | 10 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
Tip: click any note, key or fret to hear it. Orange = root.
3Indications: what it is used for
The fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale (1-♭2-3-4-5-♭6-♭7). It fits the V7 chord in a minor key, especially V7♭9 resolving to i, and the Andalusian cadence (iv–III–♭II–I in Phrygian terms) used in flamenco. It drives klezmer, Arabic-inspired pop, belly-dance music, neoclassical metal and surf rock. Over a static major chord with a half-step-above major chord (I–♭II), it creates an instant Spanish atmosphere. Rock guitarists also use it for exotic riffs over a pedal on the root.
4Dosage: how to practise it
Ten minutes daily over a I–♭II–I vamp at 80–110 BPM. Isolate the ♭2-3 augmented second and play it until it is accurate. Practise sixteenth-note runs in groups of four and triplet-based patterns typical of flamenco. On guitar, alternate the root on the lowest open string with scale fragments higher up, or use three-notes-per-string runs. On piano, play the major chord with a flat ninth in the left hand. In a minor ii–V–i, use it on the V7 and resolve to the minor third of the i chord.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Do not confuse it with the Phrygian mode: here the third is major. It is a dominant sound, so over a minor tonic chord the major third will clash; switch to harmonic minor or natural minor when the harmony resolves. The flat sixth over a dominant chord with a natural thirteenth clashes. Spelling: the augmented second (♭2 to 3) must be written as different letter names, not as a minor third.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Chords of the scale (triads)
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | D | D – F♯ – A | |
| ♭II | E♭ | E♭ – G – B♭ | |
| iii° | F♯dim | F♯ – A – C | |
| iv | Gm | G – B♭ – D | |
| v° | Adim | A – C – E♭ | |
| ♭VI+ | B♭aug | B♭ – D – F♯ | |
| ♭vii | Cm | C – E♭ – G |
Chords of the scale (seventh chords)
| Degree | Chord | Notes | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I7 | D7 | D – F♯ – A – C | |
| ♭IImaj7 | E♭maj7 | E♭ – G – B♭ – D | |
| iii°7 | F♯dim7 | F♯ – A – C – E♭ | |
| iv(maj7) | Gm(maj7) | G – B♭ – D – F♯ | |
| vø7 | Am7♭5 | A – C – E♭ – G | |
| ♭VI+maj7 | B♭+maj7 | B♭ – D – F♯ – A | |
| ♭vii7 | Cm7 | C – E♭ – G – B♭ |
Same notes, different starting point
7Other presentations available
The same scale from every note
- C Phrygian Dominant Scale
- C sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- E flat Phrygian Dominant Scale
- E Phrygian Dominant Scale
- F Phrygian Dominant Scale
- F sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- G Phrygian Dominant Scale
- G sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
- A Phrygian Dominant Scale
- B flat Phrygian Dominant Scale
- B Phrygian Dominant Scale
Other scales from the same note
- D Major Scale
- D Natural Minor Scale
- D Harmonic Minor Scale
- D Melodic Minor Scale
- D Dorian Mode
- D Phrygian Mode
- D Lydian Mode
- D Mixolydian Mode
- D Locrian Mode
- D Major Pentatonic Scale
- D Minor Pentatonic Scale
- D Blues Scale
- D Major Blues Scale
- D Whole Tone Scale
- D Half-Whole Diminished Scale
- D Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- D Hungarian Minor Scale
- D Lydian Dominant Scale
- D Altered Scale
- D Double Harmonic Major Scale
- D Bebop Dominant Scale
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.