Chord Colors

D Phrygian Dominant scale

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About the D Phrygian Dominant scale

D 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 D Phrygian with the third raised.

Its notes are D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. The formula is H 1½ H W H W W. It is the fifth mode of G Harmonic Minor.

Also called Freygish and Spanish Phrygian.

Learn more about the D Phrygian Dominant scale

The open-string notes A, D, and G all sit inside the scale. The lowest D on a standard-tuned guitar sits at the 5th fret of the A string.

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.

D shapeopen
C shapefr 2
A shapefr 4
G shapefr 7
E shapefr 9
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 6
Position 5fr 8
Position 6fr 10
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of D Phrygian Dominant

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

I D
Position 1 of 4
II E flat
Position 1 of 4
iii° F sharp diminished
Position 1 of 4
iv G minor
Position 1 of 4
A diminished
Position 1 of 4
VI+ B flat augmented
Position 1 of 4
vii C minor
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in D Phrygian Dominant

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

I D seven
Position 1 of 4
II E flat major seven
Position 1 of 4
iii° F sharp diminished seven
Position 1 of 4
iv G minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
A minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
VI+ B flat major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
vii C minor seven
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in D Phrygian Dominant

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

Notes and intervals

1DDRoot
2EbE♭Minor 2nd
3F#F♯Major 3rd
4GGPerfect 4th
5AAPerfect 5th
6BbB♭Minor 6th
7CCMinor 7th
StepsH 1½ H W H W W
Semitones1-3-1-2-1-2-2
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 Dominant in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

Embed this scale

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D Phrygian Dominant scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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