About the A Phrygian Dominant scale
A Phrygian Dominant is used for flamenco, metal and Middle Eastern and Jewish melodies. Think of it as a major-third scale with a flat second, the sound of flamenco and the Middle East. It is A Phrygian with the third raised.
Its notes are A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F, and G. The formula is H 1½ H W H W W. It is the fifth mode of D Harmonic Minor.
Also called Freygish and Spanish Phrygian.
Two of the notes in A Phrygian Dominant are black keys, B♭ and C♯. This scale runs four white keys in a row on the piano.
Chords in the key of A Phrygian Dominant
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
I A
A over C sharp (1st inversion)
II B flat
B flat over D (1st inversion)
iii° C sharp diminished
C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)
iv D minor
D minor over F (1st inversion)
v° E diminished
E diminished over G (1st inversion)
VI+ F augmented
F augmented over A (1st inversion)
vii G minor
G minor over B flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A Phrygian Dominant
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
I A seven
A seven
II B flat major seven
B flat major seven
iii° C sharp diminished seven
C sharp diminished seven
iv D minor major seven
D minor major seven
v° E minor seven flat five
E minor seven flat five
VI+ F major seven sharp five
F major seven sharp five
vii G minor seven
G minor seven
Progressions in A Phrygian Dominant
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AA | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | C#C♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | DD | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EE | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FF | Minor 6th |
| 7 | GG | Minor 7th |
| Steps | H 1½ H W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-3-1-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | A | B flat | C sharp | D | E | F | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian Dominant in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.