F Phrygian Dominant Scale

1Composition: what it contains

F – G♭ – A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E♭

Formula

1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

Steps

H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W

Number of notes

7

Sharps and flats

4 ♭

Also called

Spanish Phrygian, Freygish, Hijaz (approximately), fifth mode of harmonic minor

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)

Chords of the scale (seventh chords)

Same notes, different starting point

• B flat Harmonic Minor Scale

7Other presentations available

The same scale from every note

• C Phrygian Dominant Scale
• C sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
• D Phrygian Dominant Scale
• E flat Phrygian Dominant Scale
• E 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

• F Major Scale
• F Natural Minor Scale
• F Harmonic Minor Scale
• F Melodic Minor Scale
• F Dorian Mode
• F Phrygian Mode
• F Lydian Mode
• F Mixolydian Mode
• F Locrian Mode
• F Major Pentatonic Scale
• F Minor Pentatonic Scale
• F Blues Scale
• F Major Blues Scale
• F Whole Tone Scale
• F Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• F Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• F Hungarian Minor Scale
• F Lydian Dominant Scale
• E sharp Altered Scale
• F Double Harmonic Major Scale
• F Bebop Dominant Scale