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Scale · 7 notes

B Phrygian Dominant Scale

B Phrygian Dominant is a 7-note scale with the notes B C D♯ E F♯ G A. It sounds the fifth mode of harmonic minor: a major 3rd with a flat 2nd, the sound of flamenco, klezmer and Middle Eastern music.

CEGABD♯F♯

Purple = B (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every B phrygian dominant note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GABCD♯EF♯GABCD♯EF♯GABCD♯EF♯GABCD♯EGABCD♯EF♯GABCD♯EF♯GABCEF♯GABCD♯EF♯G

Blue = B (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the B Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1BTonic
♭2CSupertonic
3D♯Mediant
4ESubdominant
5F♯Dominant
♭6GSubmediant
♭7ASubtonic

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B C D♯ E F♯ G A.

B Phrygian Dominant scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

Chords in the B Phrygian Dominant scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
IBB7
IICCmaj7
iii°D♯°D♯°7
ivEmEm(maj7)
v°F♯°F♯ø7
VI+G+G7♯5
viiAmAm7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the B Phrygian Dominant scale

Learn it as a variation of a scale you know and listen for the augmented second, the big step that gives it the sound. Play it over a drone on the root to hear the colour before you write with it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the B Phrygian Dominant scale?

The notes of the B Phrygian Dominant scale are B C D♯ E F♯ G A.

What is the formula for the B Phrygian Dominant scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W+H – H – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

What chords are in the B Phrygian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: B, C, D♯°, Em, F♯°, G+, Am.

More B scales

B Major, B Natural Minor, B Harmonic Minor, B Melodic Minor, B Dorian, B Phrygian, B Lydian, B Mixolydian, B Locrian, B Major Pentatonic, B Minor Pentatonic, B Blues, B Lydian Dominant, B Altered, B Dorian ♭2, B Mixolydian ♭6, B Locrian ♯2, B Hungarian Minor, B Double Harmonic, B Diminished (W–H), B Diminished (H–W), B Bebop Dominant, B Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.