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Scale · 7 notes

E Phrygian Dominant Scale

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

CDEFABG♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EFG♯ABCDEFABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEFG♯ABCDEF

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

Notes in the E Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
♭2FSupertonic
3G♯Mediant
4ASubdominant
5BDominant
♭6CSubmediant
♭7DSubtonic

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

E 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 E Phrygian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IEE7
IIFFmaj7
iii°G♯°G♯°7
ivAmAm(maj7)
v°B°Bø7
VI+C+C7♯5
viiDmDm7

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

How to practise the E 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 E Phrygian Dominant scale?

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

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

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

More E scales

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