About the A flat Phrygian b4 scale
A flat Phrygian b4 is used for metal, film scoring and tense modal writing. Think of it as a phrygian scale with its fourth lowered, extra dark.
Its notes are A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The formula is H W H 1½ H W W. It is the third mode of F♭ Harmonic Major.
The open-string notes E, A, and B all sit inside this scale. On guitar, the deepest A♭ within reach is the 4th fret of the low E string. Capo the first fret to play A♭ Phrygian ♭4 with G-shape fingerings.
Positions
Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.
CAGED
Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.
3NPS
3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.
7-position system
7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.
Chords in the key of A flat Phrygian b4
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Seventh chords in A flat Phrygian b4
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Position 1 of 4
Progressions in A flat Phrygian b4
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbbB♭♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | DbbD♭♭ | Diminished 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FbF♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | GbG♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | H W H 1½ H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-2-1-3-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian b4 in other keys
C Phrygian b4 scaleD flat Phrygian b4 scaleD Phrygian b4 scaleE flat Phrygian b4 scaleE Phrygian b4 scaleF Phrygian b4 scaleG flat Phrygian b4 scaleG Phrygian b4 scaleA Phrygian b4 scaleB flat Phrygian b4 scaleB Phrygian b4 scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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