C# Phrygian Dominant Scale on Guitar: Notes

How it is built

C♯1D♭2E♯3F♯4G♯5A♭6B♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

C♯1C♯ Major C♯ 5th C♯ Suspended 4th C♯ 7th C♯ 7th Sharp 5 C♯ 7th Suspended 4th C♯ Augmented
D♭2D Major D Minor D 5th D Major 7th D Minor Major 7th D 6th D Minor 6th D Diminished D Diminished 7th D Diminished Major 7th
E♯3F Diminished F Diminished 7th F Augmented
F♯4F♯ Minor F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 2nd F♯ Suspended 4th F♯ Minor Major 7th F♯ Minor Major 9th F♯ Minor Add 9
G♯5A♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th A♭ Diminished A♭ Diminished 7th
A♭6A Augmented A Augmented Major 7th
B♭7B Minor B 5th B Suspended 2nd B Minor 7th B Minor 7th Flat 5th B Minor 6th B Minor 9th B Minor Add 9 B Diminished B Diminished 7th

How do you play the C♯ phrygian dominant scale on guitar?

C♯ phrygian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E♯ on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	1, 2, 4	E♯, F♯, G♯
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	3, 4	E♯, F♯
3 (G)	1, 2, 4	G♯, A, B
2 (B)	2, 3	C♯, D
1 (e)	1, 2, 4	E♯, F♯, G♯

Box 2 · frets 4–7

C♯ phrygian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	4, 5, 7	G♯, A, B
5 (A)	4, 5	C♯, D
4 (D)	4, 6, 7	F♯, G♯, A
3 (G)	4, 6, 7	B, C♯, D
2 (B)	6, 7	E♯, F♯
1 (e)	4, 5, 7	G♯, A, B

Box 3 · frets 7–10

C♯ phrygian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 15 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D
5 (A)	8, 9	E♯, F♯
4 (D)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	7, 10	D, E♯
2 (B)	7, 9, 10	F♯, G♯, A
1 (e)	7, 9, 10	B, C♯, D

Box 4 · frets 9–12

C♯ phrygian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	9, 10	C♯, D
5 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)	9, 11, 12	B, C♯, D
3 (G)	10, 11	E♯, F♯
2 (B)	9, 10, 12	G♯, A, B
1 (e)	9, 10	C♯, D

Why it sounds like that

Raise the third of C♯ phrygian from E to E♯. The scale then has a major third and a ♭2, with intervals 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. The step pattern is H, 1½, H, W, H, W, W; compare with C♯ phrygian.

When to use it

Use it over C♯ major or C♯ 5th for a Phrygian dominant tonic. The ♭2 D and ♭6 A add darkness to C♯ major, while the major third E♯ keeps it major. It suits flamenco, Middle Eastern, and metal.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 3 first: the root sits on the sixth string, ninth fret, and the position covers frets 7–10, making the ♭2 easy to reach.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ phrygian dominant?

The notes are C♯, D, E♯, F♯, G♯, A, B. The intervals are 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit C♯ phrygian dominant?

The tonic chord is C♯ major or C♯ 5th. Other common chords are D major, F♯ minor, and B minor. The ♭2 and ♭6 create a Spanish flavour.

How is C♯ phrygian dominant different from C♯ phrygian?

C♯ phrygian dominant has a major third (E♯), while C♯ phrygian has a minor third (E). This changes the tonic chord from minor to major. The rest of the notes are identical.