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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.

DEGBC♯F♯A♯

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.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BDEF♯GA♯BC♯DEGA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯G

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

Notes in the F♯ Phrygian Dominant scale

DegreeNoteName
1F♯Tonic
♭2GSupertonic
3A♯Mediant
4BSubdominant
5C♯Dominant
♭6DSubmediant
♭7ESubtonic

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
IF♯F♯7
IIGGmaj7
iii°A♯°A♯°7
ivBmBm(maj7)
v°C♯°C♯ø7
VI+D+D7♯5
viiEmEm7

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♯°, Bm, C♯°, D+, Em.

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♯ Altered, F♯ Dorian ♭2, 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.