stringery

B phrygian

Minor with a flat 2nd: flamenco and metal. Minor family

Dark, Spanish, menacing.

Root position3 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 2nd, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. BRH
  2. C♭2W
  3. D♭3W
  4. E4W
  5. F♯5H
  6. G♭6W
  7. A♭7W

The flat 2nd sits one fret above the root, a tense half step that gives it the flamenco and metal edge.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB phrygian

12345EADGBE3579121545♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭34♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6
12345EADGBE3579121545♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭34♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6

Position 3 is outlined, frets 7 to 10. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B phrygian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Bmi
  2. CII
  3. DIII
  4. Emiv
  5. F♯dimv°
  6. GVI
  7. Amvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • G major

    Same notes, but home is G: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E minor

    Same notes, but home is E: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • A dorian

    Same notes, but home is A: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • D mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is D: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • C lydian

    Same notes, but home is C: floating, magical, wide-eyed.