Explore scales · Guitar
A♭ phrygian dominant scale on guitar
A♭ phrygian dominant uses A♭, B♭♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. Box 1 places the root on the sixth string and the third string, perfect for low-string riffs.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ phrygian dominant scale on guitar?
A♭ phrygian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 notes across 6 strings, from F♭ on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 3 | B♭♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ phrygian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 15 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to B♭♭ on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 5 | B♭♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4, 5 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ phrygian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭♭ on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 4, the D string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 7 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5 | A♭, B♭♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
A♭ phrygian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11 | C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
A♭ phrygian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 13, 14 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
Take A♭ phrygian and raise the third from C♭ to C. The scale now has a major third and a ♭2, giving intervals 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. The step pattern is H, 1½, H, W, H, W, W; see A♭ phrygian for the minor version.
When to use it
Play it over A♭ major or A♭ 5th for a Phrygian dominant tonic. The ♭2 B♭♭ and ♭6 F♭ create tension against A♭ major, while the major third C keeps it bright. Use it in flamenco, klezmer, and metal.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on the sixth string, fourth fret, and the position covers frets 0–3, giving easy access to the ♭2.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ phrygian dominant?
The notes are A♭, B♭♭, C, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. The intervals are 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ phrygian dominant?
The tonic chord is A♭ major or A♭ 5th. Other common chords are A major, C♯ minor, and F♯ minor. The ♭2 and ♭6 create a Spanish flavour.
How is A♭ phrygian dominant different from A♭ phrygian?
A♭ phrygian dominant has a major third (C), while A♭ phrygian has a minor third (C♭). This changes the tonic chord from minor to major. The rest of the notes are identical.