Chord Colors

B♭ Phrygian b4 scale

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About the B flat Phrygian b4 scale

B 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 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 D and B. Down at the 1st fret of the A string lies the lowest B a guitar can play. A capo at the first 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 shapeopen
G shapefr 3
E shapefr 5
D shapefr 7
C shapefr 10
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 1open
Shape 2fr 2
Shape 3fr 4
Shape 4fr 5
Shape 5fr 7
Shape 6fr 9
Shape 7fr 10
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 1
Position 2fr 2
Position 3fr 4
Position 4fr 6
Position 5fr 7
Position 6fr 9
Position 7fr 10

Chords in the key of B flat Phrygian b4

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

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

Seventh chords in B flat Phrygian b4

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

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

Progressions in B flat Phrygian b4

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

Notes and intervals

1BbB♭Root
2CbC♭Minor 2nd
3DbD♭Minor 3rd
4EbbE♭♭Diminished 4th
5FFPerfect 5th
6GbG♭Minor 6th
7AbA♭Minor 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.

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Bb Phrygian b4 scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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