stringery

B♭ phrygian

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

Dark, Spanish, menacing.

Root position5 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. B♭RH
  2. C♭♭2W
  3. D♭♭3W
  4. E♭4W
  5. F5H
  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

12345GCEA571012♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭345♭6♭7R♭25♭6♭7R♭2♭34R♭2♭345♭6♭7
12345GCEA571012♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭345♭6♭7R♭25♭6♭7R♭2♭34R♭2♭345♭6♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 11. 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. B♭mi
  2. C♭II
  3. D♭III
  4. E♭miv
  5. Fdimv°
  6. G♭VI
  7. A♭mvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F♯ major

    Same notes, but home is F♯: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • E♭ minor

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

  • G♯ dorian

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

  • D♭ mixolydian

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

  • B lydian

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