Chord Colors

D♯ Phrygian Dominant scale

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About the D sharp Phrygian Dominant scale

D sharp 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

In D Phrygian Dominant, the open strings sound E, G, and B. A guitarist finds the lowest D at the 6th fret of the A string. A capo at the first fret brings D Phrygian Dominant within reach of D-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.

D shapeopen
C shapefr 3
A shapefr 5
G shapefr 8
E 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 6
Shape 5fr 7
Shape 6fr 9
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 1open
Position 2fr 3
Position 3fr 4
Position 4fr 6
Position 5fr 7
Position 6fr 9
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of D sharp Phrygian Dominant

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

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

Seventh chords in D sharp Phrygian Dominant

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

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

Progressions in D sharp Phrygian Dominant

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

Notes and intervals

1D#D♯Root
2EEMinor 2nd
3F##F♯♯Major 3rd
4G#G♯Perfect 4th
5A#A♯Perfect 5th
6BBMinor 6th
7C#C♯Minor 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.

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Eb Phrygian Dominant scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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