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