Chord Colors

B Phrygian b4 scale

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About the B Phrygian b4 scale

B 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 B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The formula is H W H 1½ H W W. It is the third mode of G Harmonic Major.

In B Phrygian 4, the open strings sound A, D, G, and B. Down at the 2nd fret of the A string lies the lowest B a guitar can play. A capo at the second fret brings B Phrygian 4 within reach of A-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.

A shapefr 1
G shapefr 4
E shapefr 6
D shapefr 8
C shapefr 11
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.

Shape 1fr 1
Shape 2fr 3
Shape 3fr 5
Shape 4fr 6
Shape 5fr 8
Shape 6fr 10
Shape 7fr 11
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.

Position 1fr 2
Position 2fr 3
Position 3fr 5
Position 4fr 7
Position 5fr 8
Position 6fr 10
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of B Phrygian b4

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i B minor
Position 1 of 4
ii C minor
Position 1 of 4
III D
Position 1 of 4
IV+ E flat augmented
Position 1 of 4
3fr
F sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
VI G
Position 1 of 5
vii° A diminished
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in B Phrygian b4

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

i B minor seven
Position 1 of 4
ii C minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
III D seven
Position 1 of 4
IV+ E flat major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
3fr
F sharp diminished seven
Position 1 of 4
VI G major seven
Position 1 of 4
vii° A minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in B Phrygian b4

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1BBRoot
2CCMinor 2nd
3DDMinor 3rd
4EbE♭Diminished 4th
5F#F♯Perfect 5th
6GGMinor 6th
7AAMinor 7th
StepsH W H 1½ H W W
Semitones1-2-1-3-1-2-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Phrygian b4 in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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B Phrygian b4 scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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