Harmonic Minor Modes Also known as Spanish Phrygian

C Phrygian Dominant

NOTES

C C♯ E F G G♯ A♯ C

SCALE FORMULA

1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7

ABOUT THIS SCALE

The fifth mode of harmonic minor. Its flat second and major third produce a powerful Spanish, Middle Eastern and metal-oriented sound.

GUITAR FRETBOARD

Standard tuning — E A D G B E — open through fret 24.

Direction

Speed

Scale note Root Click any note to hear it.

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Playback: The scale follows a practical two-octave route across nearby strings and frets. The note currently sounding turns bright white.

JAM OVER THIS

Chord progression ideas

Key of C

I – ♭II – I

C → C♯ → C

The major tonic against the flat-II is the defining Phrygian Dominant sound.

I – ♭vii – ♭II – I

C → A♯m → C♯ → C

A dramatic progression suited to metal, flamenco-influenced playing and exotic lead lines.