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Scale · 7 notes

F Phrygian Dominant Scale

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

CFAD♭E♭G♭B♭

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CE♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FAB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CD♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭

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

Notes in the F Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1FTonic
♭2G♭Supertonic
3AMediant
4B♭Subdominant
5CDominant
♭6D♭Submediant
♭7E♭Subtonic

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

F 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 F Phrygian Dominant scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IFF7
IIG♭G♭maj7
iii°A°A°7
ivB♭mB♭m(maj7)
v°C°Cø7
VI+D♭+D♭7♯5
viiE♭mE♭m7

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

How to practise the F 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 F Phrygian Dominant scale?

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

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

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

More F scales

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