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. F♯RH
  2. G♭2W
  3. A♭3W
  4. B4W
  5. C♯5H
  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

12345EADGBE35791215♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭34♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2
12345EADGBE35791215♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭34♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2

Position 1 is outlined, frets 2 to 5. 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. F♯mi
  2. GII
  3. AIII
  4. Bmiv
  5. C♯dimv°
  6. DVI
  7. Emvii

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.

  • G lydian

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