About the A flat Phrygian Dominant scale
A flat 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.
A♭ Phrygian Dominant uses four black keys on the piano, A♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭.
Chords in the key of A flat Phrygian Dominant
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
A flat over C (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B double flat over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C diminished over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat diminished over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F flat augmented over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G flat minor over B double flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A flat Phrygian Dominant
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
A flat seven
B double flat major seven
C diminished seven
D flat minor major seven
E flat minor seven flat five
F flat major seven sharp five
G flat minor seven
Progressions in A flat Phrygian Dominant
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbbB♭♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | CC | Major 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FbF♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | GbG♭ | 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 flat | B double flat | C | D flat | E flat | F flat | G flat | A flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian Dominant in other keys
C Phrygian Dominant scaleD flat Phrygian Dominant scaleD Phrygian Dominant scaleE flat Phrygian Dominant scaleE Phrygian Dominant scaleF Phrygian Dominant scaleG flat Phrygian Dominant scaleG Phrygian Dominant scaleA Phrygian Dominant scaleB flat Phrygian Dominant scaleB Phrygian Dominant scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
Embed this scale
