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Scale · 7 notes

C♯ Phrygian Dominant Scale

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

DE♯ABC♯F♯G♯

Purple = C♯ (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215E♯F♯G♯ABC♯DE♯F♯ABC♯DE♯F♯G♯ABDE♯F♯G♯ABC♯DE♯G♯ABC♯DE♯F♯G♯ABC♯DE♯F♯G♯ABC♯DE♯F♯G♯ABC♯DE♯F♯

Blue = C♯ (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the C♯ Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
♭2DSupertonic
3E♯Mediant
4F♯Subdominant
5G♯Dominant
♭6ASubmediant
♭7BSubtonic

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

C♯ 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 C♯ Phrygian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IC♯C♯7
IIDDmaj7
iii°E♯°E♯°7
ivF♯mF♯m(maj7)
v°G♯°G♯ø7
VI+A+A7♯5
viiBmBm7

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

How to practise the C♯ 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 C♯ Phrygian Dominant scale?

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

What is the formula for the C♯ 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 C♯ Phrygian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: C♯, D, E♯°, F♯m, G♯°, A+, Bm.

More C♯ scales

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