Eb Phrygian Dominant Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

E♭1F♭♭2G3A♭4B♭5C♭♭6D♭♭7

Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

E♭1E♭ Major E♭ 5th E♭ Suspended 4th E♭ 7th E♭ 7th Sharp 5 E♭ 7th Suspended 4th E♭ Augmented
F♭♭2E Major E Minor E 5th E Major 7th E Minor Major 7th E 6th E Minor 6th E Diminished E Diminished 7th E Diminished Major 7th
G3G Diminished G Diminished 7th G Augmented
A♭4A♭ Minor A♭ 5th A♭ Suspended 2nd A♭ Suspended 4th A♭ Minor Major 7th A♭ Minor Add 9
B♭5B♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th B♭ Diminished B♭ Diminished 7th
C♭♭6B Augmented B Augmented Major 7th
D♭♭7C♯ Minor C♯ 5th C♯ Suspended 2nd C♯ Minor 7th C♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th C♯ Minor 6th C♯ Minor Add 9 C♯ Diminished C♯ Diminished 7th

How do you play the E♭ phrygian dominant scale on ukulele?

E♭ phrygian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 3, 4	A♭, B♭, C♭
3 (C)	1, 3, 4	D♭, E♭, F♭
2 (E)	3, 4	G, A♭
1 (A)	1, 2, 4	B♭, C♭, D♭

Box 2 · frets 3–6

E♭ phrygian dominant in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Box 3 · frets 7–10

E♭ phrygian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 9 notes across 4 strings, from G on the C string at fret 7 up to G on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the G string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

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

Why it sounds like that

Raise the third of E♭ phrygian from G♭ to G. The half-step E♭–F♭ and augmented second F♭–G define the sound. Compare with E♭ phrygian to hear the change. The pattern is H, 1½, H, W, H, W, W.

When to use it

Use it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th chords in flamenco and Middle Eastern styles. The ♭2 and ♭6 create tension. Try it over E♭ major and E♭ 5th progressions. It fits B♭ minor keys.

Which position to practise

Start with Box 1. The root on string 3, fret 3 is central and the high root on string 1, fret 6 is within reach.

Common questions

Which notes are in E♭ phrygian dominant?

E♭, F♭, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D♭. It has a major third and flat second, sixth, and seventh. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

What chords work with this scale?

E♭ major and E♭ 5th are the primary chords. You can also use A♭ minor and D♭ minor for progressions.

How is it different from E♭ phrygian?

The third is raised from G♭ to G. That changes the tonic chord from minor to major.

Where do I start on the ukulele?

Start on string 3, fret 3 for the root E♭. Box 1 covers frets 1–5 with no other root in that position.