Phrygian Scale

The Phrygian scale is a seven note scale whose interval pattern is: half step, whole step,
whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step. It is used over a Minor 7th or Dominant
7th sus4 chord. The C Phrygian scale contains the notes C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb. If we play this scale up
and down the A string it looks like this:
high
pitched
string

low
pitched
string

B
G
D
A
E

C Db

Eb

half step Whole step

G Ab

F
Whole step

Whole step

Bb

half step Whole step

C
Whole step

It is sometimes easier to think of the Phrygian scale as a Major scale where the 2nd, 3rd, 6th
and 7th have been atted rather than memorizing the interval pattern. It should also be pointed out
that if we play an Ab Major scale starting on the 3rd degree (C) we will be playing a C Phrygian scale
(C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C).
high
pitched
string

low
pitched
string

B
G
D
A
E

Ab

Bb

Whole step

C Db

Eb

Whole step half step Whole step

F
Whole step

G Ab
Whole step

Bb

half step Whole step

C
Whole step

C Phrygian Scale

It is important to know each scale in two ways:

|: C-7 / / / :|

|: C- / / / | Eb / Db / :|

Second, memorize which Major scale a particular mode comes from. In this case C Phrygian is the
3rd degree of Ab Major. This second method allows you to group similar scales together. For the
following progression you could just play an Ab Major scale over all the chords because the chord
scale for each chord would have the same notes as an Ab Major and the chord progression is combined in a way that makes you hear Ab Major as the key center.

|: Ab7 / / / | C-7 / Bb-7 / :|

TrueFire & Bruce Arnold, 2007 | All Rights Reserved

First, memorize its interval pattern or what alterations it has in comparison to C Major. In this case
C Phrygian has a atted 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th. You want to develop the ability to hear Phrygian as its
own key. The following progressions give you an example of hearing C Phrygian as the key center.
Notice that all the chords used in these progressions are diatonic to the key of C Phrygian.

*Use Phrygian over a

C minor or C7sus4 chord

C Phrygian Scale (all 7 positions on guitar)

From website:
www.arnoldjazz.com

b
b

b
b

&

b b

Fingering
String

1
1

Fret

3
3

4
4

1
1

3
3

4
4

1
1

2
3

4
5

1
1

2
3

4
5

1
2

2
4

4
6

1
3

2
4

4
6

2
6

4
8

3
8

4
9

b b
b

&

b
b

String

Fingering 1
Fret
3

2
4

4
6

1
3

2
4

4
6

1
3

3
5

4
6

1
3

3
5

4
6

1
4

2
6

4
8

1
4

b
b

&

b b

String

Fingering 1
Fret
4

2
6

4
8

1
4

2
6

4
8

1
5

2
6

4
8

1
5

2
6

4
8

1
6

3
8

4
9

1
6

b b

b
b

& b b
b

String

Fingering
1
Fret

3
8

4
9

1
6

2
8

4
10

1
6

2
8

4
10

1
6

2
8

4
10

1
8

2
9

4
11

1
8
1

2
9

4
11

2
11

4
13

1
9
1

2
11

4
13

3
13

4
14

1
11

2
13

4
15

3
15

4
16

b
b

& b b b b
6

String

Fingering
Fret

1
8

2
9

4
11

1
8

3
10

4
11

1
8

3
10

4
11

1
8

2
10

4
12

1
9

b b

&b b b b

String

2
11

4
13

1
10

2
11

4
13

1
10

2
11

4
13

1
10

3
12

4
13

1
11

b
b

&b b b b
1

String

Fingering
Fret

1
11

2
13

4
15

1
11

2
13

4
15

1
11

2
13

4
15

1
12

2
13

4
15

1
13

2
14

4
16

1
13

This C phrygian scale should be learned by thinking the notes i.e. C,Db,Eb... or by thinking the degrees
C=1,Db=b2, etc., Do not just memorize a fingering pattern. After you have mastered the C phrygian in every
position. You should learn these scale forms in all keys. Use Cycle 5 to move through the keys i.e. C then F,
Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G. Remember always think the notes or the degrees. Good Luck!

TrueFire & Bruce Arnold, 2007 | All Rights Reserved

Fingering 1
Fret
9

Diatonic Triad Chords of Phrygian in all Keys

C Phrygian

D bmaj E bmaj

C min

& b b b b b
Bb Phrygian

G dim A bmaj

F min

b
b b b

b
B bmin C maj D bmaj

E b min F dim

G# Phrygian

C #min

F Phrygian

B b min

G bmaj A bmaj B bmin

b
b b b b b b b

b b

F min

G bmaj

A bmin

E maj

F # min

D# Phrygian
D # min E maj

29

G #min

43

F # min G maj

B maj

A maj

#
# # # # # #

& #
#

F# Phrygian

&

D # dim

# #

A maj

B min

G maj

A min

C # dim

# # #

C maj

D min

B dim

D Phrygian
D min

&

71

E bmaj

b b

F maj

G min

A dim

# #

B bmaj

B min C maj

F # min G # dim

B bmaj

D maj E min

# #

F # dim

A maj B min

# #

G maj A min

A Phrygian
A min

C maj D min

A bmaj B bmaj

E dim

G Phrygian

# # # #

C min G min

b
b

C min D dim

b b

F maj

E bmaj

b b

G min

F min

TrueFire & Bruce Arnold, 2007 | All Rights Reserved

&

57

F maj

#
#

D maj E maj

B Phrygian
D maj E min

E Phrygian
E min

C # min

B maj C # min

F #maj G #min A # dim

C# Phrygian

E bmin

b b b b b b b

#
# # # # # # #

b b
& b b b b b b b b b b b b b b # # #
b b

15

C dim D bmaj

Diatonic 7th Chords of Phrygian in all Keys

C Phrygian

D b Maj7

C -7

& b b b b

E b7

b b b b b b b
b

Bb Phrygian

b
C Maj7 D b7

B b-7

& b b b b b b bb
b b

15

G# Phrygian

G #-7

G -7 b 5A b Maj7

B7

A Maj7

F -7

F #-7 G Maj7

& #
# #

C #-7

A7

B -7

E Phrygian
E -7

G7

A -7

D Phrygian
D -7

&

71

E bMaj7

F7

b
b
b

D# Phrygian

E -7

b
b b bb
b

B Maj7 C #-7

G #-7 A #-7 b 5

F #7

D #-7 E Maj7

A b-7

C -7 b 5 D b Maj7

D #-7 b 5

G -7

C #-7 b 5

# #
#
#

A -7 5

C #-7

F #-7 G #-7 b 5

C# Phrygian
D Maj7 E 7

# # #
#

#
#
# #

B bMaj7

D -7

b
b

C -7

B -7 C Maj7

E -7

F #-7 b 5 G Maj7 A -7

B b Maj7

C7

D -7

E -7 b 5 F Maj7

A Phrygian
A -7

A b Maj7 B b7

G Phrygian
G -7

# #
#

A Maj7 B -7

D7

B Phrygian
D Maj7 E -7

B -7 b 5 C Maj7

F #-7

E Maj7

b bb
b

C -7 D -7 b 5

b b b

E b Maj7

G -7

F -7

b b
b
b

TrueFire & Bruce Arnold, 2007 | All Rights Reserved

&

57

F Maj7

B b-7

G b Maj7 A b 7

b b b b b b bb b b b
b b b
F -7

# #
#

#
#

#
#

#
b b b b b b b b b # # ## # # # # # # #

F# Phrygian

43

b
b b

G b Maj7

E b-7 F -7 b 5

& # # # # # # # # ##

# #

29

B b-7

F Phrygian