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