B♭ Phrygian dominant scale
B♭ Phrygian dominant is B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A♭. Phrygian dominant: the fifth mode of harmonic minor, with a flat second and a major third, a dominant sound used in minor keys.
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W+H H W H W W
- Notes
- 7
- Key signature
- 5 flats
- Also written
- A♯ Phrygian dominant
Notes and degrees
The B♭ Phrygian dominant scale has seven notes: B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A♭. Each degree is named by its distance from the tonic, B♭.
| Degree | Note | Interval above B♭ | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | P1 | tonic | |
| 2 | m2 | supertonic | |
| 3 | M3 | mediant | |
| 4 | P4 | subdominant | |
| 5 | P5 | dominant | |
| 6 | m6 | submediant | |
| 7 | m7 | subtonic |
On the piano
Every key of the scale is lit in its own colour. Click one to hear it.
On the guitar
Every B♭ scale tone on the first twelve frets in standard tuning. The tonic is ringed. Click a dot to hear the note.
Chords in B♭ Phrygian dominant
Stacking thirds on each degree gives a triad and a seventh chord. The numerals are measured from the tonic against the major scale, so a ♭ means that chord root is lower than in major.
| Numeral | Triad | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | B♭ | B♭7 |
| ♭II | C♭ | C♭maj7 |
| iii° | Ddim | Ddim7 |
| iv | E♭m | E♭m(maj7) |
| v° | Fdim | Fm7♭5 |
| ♭VI+ | G♭aug | G♭ B♭ D F |
| ♭vii | A♭m | A♭m7 |
What it sounds like
Phrygian dominant follows the pattern half, augmented second, half, whole, half, whole, whole. The flat second sits against the root, and the augmented second between the flat second and the major third gives the scale its signature leap. The major third makes the tonic chord dominant in color, while the flat sixth and flat seventh keep the minor framework. The result is tense, exotic, and strongly pulled toward the tonic, which suits minor-key cadences.
Where you hear it
Phrygian dominant is widely associated with flamenco-influenced guitar and with Jewish and Middle Eastern modal music. In klezmer it is known by the Yiddish name freygish. Film and game scores use it to suggest tension or a distant, exotic setting. Jazz and metal players use it over dominant seventh chords with a flat ninth. Minor-key harmony also uses it for its dominant chord, which is why it appears so often in that setting.
How it is built
Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of harmonic minor, so its parent is harmonic minor started on its fifth degree. On C, its notes are C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭, the same pitches as F harmonic minor, so C Phrygian dominant is the fifth mode of F harmonic minor. Its tonic chord is a dominant seventh, C7, and its flat second makes C7 with a flat ninth available. The second degree is a major seventh chord on D♭, and the fifth degree is a half-diminished chord, Gm7♭5.
Scales with the same notes
These scales use the same seven pitches as B♭ Phrygian dominant, starting from a different note.
Other B♭ scales
- B♭ major
- B♭ natural minor
- B♭ harmonic minor
- B♭ melodic minor
- B♭ Dorian
- B♭ Phrygian
- B♭ Lydian
- B♭ Mixolydian
- B♭ Locrian
- B♭ major pentatonic
- B♭ minor pentatonic
- B♭ blues
- B♭ whole-tone
- B♭ diminished (whole–half)
- B♭ diminished (half–whole)
- B♭ Lydian dominant
- B♭ altered
- B♭ double harmonic major
- B♭ Hungarian minor
- B♭ bebop dominant
How to practise it
Play E Phrygian dominant, E F G♯ A B C D, against a drone on E. Sing the augmented second from F to G♯ until it sounds natural. Over an E7♭9 chord, improvise with the scale, landing on E and B, the chord's root and fifth. Then play the same notes over an Em vamp, and hear how the major third turns the minor framework into a dominant color.
Enharmonic spelling
B♭ and A♯ are the same pitch, so this scale can also be written as A♯ Phrygian dominant: A♯ B C× D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯. The spelling that needs fewer accidentals is the one you will usually meet.
Further reading
- Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales ComparedFundamentals · 6 min
- Chord-Scale Theory Explained: Which Scale Fits Which ChordJazz & Popular Harmony · 7 min
- Church Modes From Dorian to Locrian: A Practical GuideFundamentals · 7 min
Questions
What are the notes of the B♭ Phrygian dominant scale?
The B♭ Phrygian dominant scale is B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A♭. Written ascending it returns to B♭ an octave higher.
What is the formula for the B♭ Phrygian dominant scale?
The formula is 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 measured from the major scale. As steps that is H, W+H, H, W, H, W, W (W is a whole step, H a half step).
What key signature does B♭ Phrygian dominant use?
B♭ Phrygian dominant is written with 5 flats in the key signature.
Which chords belong to B♭ Phrygian dominant?
Stacking thirds on each degree gives the triads B♭, C♭, Ddim, E♭m, Fdim, G♭aug, A♭m.
What is Phrygian dominant?
It is the fifth mode of harmonic minor, a seven-note scale with a flat second and a major third. On C it is C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭. Its tonic chord is a dominant seventh, which is why it is called a dominant scale even though it sits in a minor framework.
How is Phrygian dominant different from Phrygian?
Phrygian dominant raises the third, while Phrygian keeps the minor third. On C, Phrygian is C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ and Phrygian dominant is C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭. The major third gives the tonic a dominant chord, which Phrygian cannot produce because its third is minor.
Which chords go with Phrygian dominant?
The tonic is a dominant seventh chord, often with a flat ninth, such as C7♭9. The second degree is a major seventh chord with a flat second. The fifth degree is a half-diminished chord. Improvisers use the scale over dominant chords in minor keys, where its characteristic sound is most audible.