stringery

F phrygian

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

Dark, Spanish, menacing.

Root position1 of 5

35791215

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

Built from

  1. FRH
  2. G♭♭2W
  3. A♭♭3W
  4. B♭4W
  5. C5H
  6. D♭♭6W
  7. E♭♭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 neckF phrygian

12345EADGBE35791215R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭245♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2
12345EADGBE35791215R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭245♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2

Position 1 is outlined, frets 1 to 4. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F phrygian key

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

  1. Fmi
  2. G♭II
  3. A♭III
  4. B♭miv
  5. Cdimv°
  6. D♭VI
  7. E♭mvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • D♭ major

    Same notes, but home is D♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • B♭ minor

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

  • E♭ dorian

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

  • A♭ mixolydian

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

  • F♯ lydian

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