B♭ 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 B♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W+H H W H W W |
| Chords in the key | B♭C♭D°E♭mF°G♭+A♭m |
Chords in the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♭ Phrygian Dominant on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♭ Phrygian Dominant uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
B♭ · C♭ · D · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭
Play B♭ Phrygian Dominant on the online piano
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B♭ Phrygian Dominant on the guitar
B♭ Phrygian Dominant - fr 0–12
B♭ Phrygian Dominant on the staff
Notes of the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♭ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | D | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♭ 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 B♭, B♭ Phrygian Dominant has D where B♭ Phrygian has D♭; every other note is shared with B♭ Phrygian (B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭).
How to use the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Phrygian Dominant are: I = B♭, II = C♭, iii° = D°, iv = E♭m, v° = F°, VI+ = G♭+, vii = A♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ 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 B♭ 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 B♭ Phrygian Dominant
Start with the music described above: listen for B♭ 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 B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
The B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale contains B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭ and A♭.
What is the formula for the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
B♭ 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 B♭ Phrygian Dominant a major or minor scale?
B♭ Phrygian Dominant is a phrygian dominant scale. Phrygian with a major third - flamenco, klezmer and middle-eastern signature sound.
What chords belong to the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
The diatonic chords of B♭ Phrygian Dominant are B♭, C♭, D°, E♭m, F°, G♭+, A♭m.
Which genres use B♭ 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 B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale on the piano?
On the piano B♭ Phrygian Dominant uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. C♭ is the white key you'd normally call B.
What is the difference between B♭ Phrygian Dominant and B♭ Phrygian?
On B♭, B♭ Phrygian Dominant has D where B♭ Phrygian has D♭; every other note is shared with B♭ Phrygian (B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭).
How do I practise the B♭ Phrygian Dominant scale?
Spend time on that half-step move from root to flat second. It's the most recognisable feature of phrygian dominant.