Guitar scale · Phrygian mode
A Phrygian Scale
The ♭2 degree delivers distinct Spanish/Flamenco flavor or dark heavy metal tension.
Tap any note to hear it.
A Phrygian Scale tab: all 5 positions
Each tab climbs from the low E string to the high e string. Play it up, then back down.
e|-----------------------------5-6-8-| B|-------------------------6-8-------| G|-------------------5-7-9-----------| D|-------------5-7-8-----------------| A|-------5-7-8-----------------------| E|-5-6-8-----------------------------|
e|-----------------------------------8-10-| B|---------------------------8-10-11------| G|--------------------7-9-10--------------| D|-------------7-8-10---------------------| A|------7-8-10----------------------------| E|-8-10-----------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-| B|---------------------------------10-11-13----------| G|-------------------------9-10-12-------------------| D|-------------------10-12---------------------------| A|----------10-12-13---------------------------------| E|-10-12-13------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------------12-13-15-| B|-------------------------------------13-15----------| G|----------------------------12-14-15----------------| D|-------------------12-14-15-------------------------| A|----------12-13-15----------------------------------| E|-12-13-15-------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------------15-17-18-| B|----------------------------------15-17-18----------| G|-------------------------14-15-17-------------------| D|----------------14-15-17----------------------------| A|----------15-17-------------------------------------| E|-15-17-18-------------------------------------------|
How to play A Phrygian on guitar
Find the root first: A is at fret 5 on the low E string and fret 0 on the A string. The blue notes on the diagram are every A on the neck; the gold ones are the rest of the scale's home chord (♭3, 5, ♭7), the safest notes to land on at the end of a phrase.
Learn it one box at a time. Position 1, the E shape, sits at frets 5–9. Once it's under your fingers, move to position 2 (the D shape) and play the notes the two boxes share, then keep going up the neck. After all five, the scale joins up into one pattern across the whole fretboard.
A Phrygian uses exactly the same notes as F major; only the home note changes, which is what gives it its sound. See the F Major Scale.
Degrees
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| ♭2 | Bb |
| ♭3 | C |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | E |
| ♭6 | F |
| ♭7 | G |
Chords in A Phrygian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get these seven chords. They are the chords that sound "at home" in A Phrygian; tap one to see its shapes.
| Degree | Chord | 7th chord | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Am | Am7 | Tonic |
| ♭II | Bb | Bbmaj7 | Supertonic |
| ♭III | C | C7 | Mediant |
| iv | Dm | Dm7 | Subdominant |
| v° | Edim | Em7b5 | Dominant |
| ♭VI | F | Fmaj7 | Submediant |
| ♭vii | Gm | Gm7 | Leading tone / subtonic |
Fretwise · Free on iPhone & Android
Practise A Phrygian anywhere, even offline.
This page is a small slice of Fretwise. The app adds practice: exercises that play as tab, a new routine every day, and the tools to tune and keep time. On iPhone, iPad and Android, no sign-up.
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Questions
- What notes are in the A Phrygian Scale?
- The A Phrygian Scale has 7 notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G.
- What chords are in the A Phrygian Scale?
- The chords of A Phrygian are Am (i), Bb (♭II), C (♭III), Dm (iv), Edim (v°), F (♭VI), Gm (♭vii).
- What is the formula of the phrygian scale?
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, which is the step pattern H W W W H W W (W = whole step, H = half step).
- Where do I play A Phrygian on the guitar?
- The root A is at fret 5 on the low E string and fret 0 on the A string. Position 1 (the E shape) covers frets 5–9, and four more positions connect it up the neck.