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Scale · 7 notes

D Phrygian Dominant Scale

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

CDGAE♭F♯B♭

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215F♯GAB♭CDE♭F♯GAB♭CDE♭F♯GAB♭CDE♭F♯GAB♭CDE♭GAB♭CDE♭F♯GAB♭CDE♭F♯GAB♭CDF♯GAB♭CDE♭F♯G

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

Notes in the D Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1DTonic
♭2E♭Supertonic
3F♯Mediant
4GSubdominant
5ADominant
♭6B♭Submediant
♭7CSubtonic

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

D 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 D Phrygian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IDD7
IIE♭E♭maj7
iii°F♯°F♯°7
ivGmGm(maj7)
v°A°Aø7
VI+B♭+B♭7♯5
viiCmCm7

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

How to practise the D 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 D Phrygian Dominant scale?

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

What is the formula for the D 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 D Phrygian Dominant scale?

Built from the scale in triads: D, E♭, F♯°, Gm, A°, B♭+, Cm.

More D scales

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