Guitar scale · Phrygian mode
G Phrygian Scale
The ♭2 degree delivers distinct Spanish/Flamenco flavor or dark heavy metal tension.
Tap any note to hear it.
G 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|-----------------------------3-4-6-| B|-------------------------4-6-------| G|-------------------3-5-7-----------| D|-------------3-5-6-----------------| A|-------3-5-6-----------------------| E|-3-4-6-----------------------------|
e|-----------------------------6-8-| B|-----------------------6-8-9-----| G|-----------------5-7-8-----------| D|-----------5-6-8-----------------| A|-----5-6-8-----------------------| E|-6-8-----------------------------|
e|------------------------------------8-10-11-| B|-----------------------------8-9-11---------| G|----------------------7-8-10----------------| D|-----------------8-10-----------------------| A|---------8-10-11----------------------------| E|-8-10-11------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------------10-11-13-| B|-------------------------------------11-13----------| G|----------------------------10-12-13----------------| D|-------------------10-12-13-------------------------| A|----------10-11-13----------------------------------| E|-10-11-13-------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------------13-15-16-| B|----------------------------------13-15-16----------| G|-------------------------12-13-15-------------------| D|----------------12-13-15----------------------------| A|----------13-15-------------------------------------| E|-13-15-16-------------------------------------------|
How to play G Phrygian on guitar
Find the root first: G is at fret 3 on the low E string and fret 10 on the A string. The blue notes on the diagram are every G 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 3–7. 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.
G Phrygian uses exactly the same notes as Eb major; only the home note changes, which is what gives it its sound. See the Eb Major Scale.
Degrees
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | G |
| ♭2 | Ab |
| ♭3 | Bb |
| 4 | C |
| 5 | D |
| ♭6 | Eb |
| ♭7 | F |
Chords in G Phrygian
Stack every other note of the scale and you get these seven chords. They are the chords that sound "at home" in G Phrygian; tap one to see its shapes.
| Degree | Chord | 7th chord | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Gm | Gm7 | Tonic |
| ♭II | Ab | Abmaj7 | Supertonic |
| ♭III | Bb | Bb7 | Mediant |
| iv | Cm | Cm7 | Subdominant |
| v° | Ddim | Dm7b5 | Dominant |
| ♭VI | Eb | Ebmaj7 | Submediant |
| ♭vii | Fm | Fm7 | Leading tone / subtonic |
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Questions
- What notes are in the G Phrygian Scale?
- The G Phrygian Scale has 7 notes: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F.
- What chords are in the G Phrygian Scale?
- The chords of G Phrygian are Gm (i), Ab (♭II), Bb (♭III), Cm (iv), Ddim (v°), Eb (♭VI), Fm (♭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 G Phrygian on the guitar?
- The root G is at fret 3 on the low E string and fret 10 on the A string. Position 1 (the E shape) covers frets 3–7, and four more positions connect it up the neck.