About the B flat Phrygian Dominant scale
B 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 B♭ Phrygian with the third raised.
Its notes are B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. The formula is H 1½ H W H W W. It is the fifth mode of E♭ Harmonic Minor.
Also called Freygish and Spanish Phrygian.
On the piano, this mode touches the black keys B♭, E♭, G♭, and A♭.
Chords in the key of B flat Phrygian Dominant
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
I B flat
B flat over D (1st inversion)
II C flat
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
iii° D diminished
D diminished over F (1st inversion)
iv E flat minor
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
v° F diminished
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
VI+ G flat augmented
G flat augmented over B flat (1st inversion)
vii A flat minor
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B flat Phrygian Dominant
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
I B flat seven
B flat seven
II C flat major seven
C flat major seven
iii° D diminished seven
D diminished seven
iv E flat minor major seven
E flat minor major seven
v° F minor seven flat five
F minor seven flat five
VI+ G flat major seven sharp five
G flat major seven sharp five
vii A flat minor seven
A flat minor seven
Progressions in B flat Phrygian Dominant
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BbB♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CbC♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Major 3rd |
| 4 | EbE♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | FF | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | GbG♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | AbA♭ | 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 | B flat | C flat | D | E flat | F | G flat | A flat | B flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian Dominant in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.