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A♭ phrygian scale on guitar
A♭ phrygian is A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭. Box 1 places the root at string 6, fret 4.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ phrygian scale on guitar?
A♭ phrygian in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 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, 2 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2 | E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2 | A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ phrygian 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) | 2, 4 | C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | 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 in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to C♭ on the high e string at fret 7. 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, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 7 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A♭ phrygian in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 notes across 6 strings, from C♭ on the low E string at fret 7 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the B string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | F♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | B♭♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9 | E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | C♭, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A♭ phrygian in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to F♭ on the high e string at fret 12. 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) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11, 12 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
A♭ phrygian in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 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, 14 | A♭, B♭♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | D♭, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 14 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ phrygian lowers the second degree of A♭ natural minor from B♭ to B♭♭. The interval pattern becomes H, W, W, W, H, W, W. This half-step between root and ♭2 gives the scale its characteristic dark color.
When to use it
A♭ phrygian fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. It works over progressions in A♭ minor that emphasize the ♭2, such as A♭m–B♭♭–C♭. The scale suits flamenco, metal, and dark ambient styles.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 6, fret 4, giving easy access to the low A♭ and the ♭2 above it.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ phrygian?
A♭ phrygian contains A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The scale has a half step between A♭ and B♭♭. This ♭2 creates the characteristic phrygian sound. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit A♭ phrygian?
A♭ phrygian fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. It also works over progressions using A major and B major. The scale's ♭2 and ♭6 give it a dark, tense quality.
What is the difference between A♭ phrygian and A♭ natural minor?
A♭ phrygian lowers the second degree of A♭ natural minor from B♭ to B♭♭. This creates a half step between the root and the second. The rest of the scale remains the same.