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