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