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