A♭ Phrygian Dominant at a glance
Phrygian dominant is the signature scale of flamenco, klezmer and middle-eastern modes. You'll also hear it in metal solos for that exotic, aggressive sound. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B𝄫 C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W+H H W H W W |
| Chords in the key | A♭B𝄫C°D♭mE♭°F♭+G♭m |
Chords in the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Phrygian Dominant on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Phrygian Dominant uses four black keys (A♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and three white. B𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and E.
A♭ · B𝄫 · C · D♭ · E♭ · F♭ · G♭
Try A♭ Phrygian Dominant on the virtual piano
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A♭ Phrygian Dominant on the guitar
A♭ Phrygian Dominant - fr 0–12
A♭ Phrygian Dominant on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | C | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Phrygian Dominant different
Phrygian dominant is Phrygian with a major third, and that third is the one note separating the two. It's the fifth mode of harmonic minor, so its tonic is the major V chord of a minor key; E Phrygian dominant is the V of A minor. The half step from ♭2 to 1, next to the augmented second between ♭2 and 3, gives it its flamenco and klezmer sound. With the ♭7 added its tonic chord becomes a dominant seventh, which is why it's played over V7 in minor keys. On A♭, A♭ Phrygian Dominant has C where A♭ Phrygian has C♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Phrygian (A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How to use the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Phrygian Dominant are: I = A♭, II = B𝄫, iii° = C°, iv = D♭m, v° = E♭°, VI+ = F♭+, vii = G♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Phrygian Dominant. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Phrygian dominant is the signature scale of flamenco, klezmer and middle-eastern modes. You'll also hear it in metal solos for that exotic, aggressive sound.
Practice tips
Spend time on that half-step move from root to flat second. It's the most recognisable feature of phrygian dominant.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale follows the fifth mode of harmonic minor: H-W+H-H-W-H-W-W with a major third over a flat second. Step pattern: H - W+H - H - W - H - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Phrygian Dominant
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Phrygian Dominant in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
The A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale contains A♭, B𝄫, C, D♭, E♭, F♭ and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
A♭ Phrygian Dominant follows the fifth mode of harmonic minor: H-W+H-H-W-H-W-W with a major third over a flat second.
Is A♭ Phrygian Dominant a major or minor scale?
A♭ Phrygian Dominant is a phrygian dominant scale. Phrygian with a major third - flamenco, klezmer and middle-eastern signature sound.
What chords belong to the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Phrygian Dominant are A♭, B𝄫, C°, D♭m, E♭°, F♭+, G♭m.
Which genres use A♭ Phrygian Dominant?
Phrygian dominant is the signature scale of flamenco, klezmer and middle-eastern modes. You'll also hear it in metal solos for that exotic, aggressive sound.
How do you play the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Phrygian Dominant uses four black keys (A♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and three white. B𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A and E.
What is the difference between A♭ Phrygian Dominant and A♭ Phrygian?
On A♭, A♭ Phrygian Dominant has C where A♭ Phrygian has C♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Phrygian (A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
Spend time on that half-step move from root to flat second. It's the most recognisable feature of phrygian dominant.