Explore scales · Guitar
F phrygian dominant scale on guitar
F phrygian dominant uses F, G♭, A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭. Box 1 places the root on the sixth string and the first string, perfect for low-string riffs.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the F phrygian dominant scale on guitar?
F phrygian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the low E string at fret 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3, 4 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2 | F, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 5–8
F phrygian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 15 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7 | F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
F phrygian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 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 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9 | F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10, 11 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11 | A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
F phrygian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 15 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 low E string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 14 | G♭, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13, 14 | E♭, F, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third of F phrygian from A♭ to A. 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 F phrygian.
When to use it
Use it over F major or F 5th for a Phrygian dominant tonic. The ♭2 G♭ and ♭6 D♭ add darkness to F major, while the major third A keeps it major. It suits flamenco, Middle Eastern, and metal.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on the sixth string, first fret, and the position covers frets 1–4, making the ♭2 easy to reach.
Common questions
What notes are in F phrygian dominant?
The notes are F, G♭, A, B♭, C, D♭, E♭. The intervals are 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is a phrygian scale with a raised third.
Which chords fit F phrygian dominant?
The tonic chord is F major or F 5th. Other common chords are F♯ major, B♭ minor, and E♭ minor. The ♭2 and ♭6 create a Spanish flavour.
How is F phrygian dominant different from F phrygian?
F phrygian dominant has a major third (A), while F phrygian has a minor third (A♭). This changes the tonic chord from minor to major. The rest of the notes are identical.