About the B Phrygian Scale
The B phrygian scale is a 7-note scale. Spanish/Flamenco flavor with flat 2nd. Its notes are B, C, D, E, F#, G and A, built from the formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- B – C – D – E – F# – G – A
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W W W H W W (1–2–2–2–1–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- B
B Phrygian Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Root |
| ♭2 | C | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | D | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | G | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A | Minor 7th |
Where to play the B Phrygian Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (B) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
How to practice the phrygian scale
- Emphasize the ♭2 for Spanish sound
- Practice flamenco-style rasgueados
- Work on metal riffs using this mode
- Try tremolo picking exercises
- Resolve phrases to the root dramatically
Scales with the same notes as B Phrygian Scale
These scales share every note with the B phrygian scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Phrygian scale in other keys
Other scales in B
- B Minor Pentatonic
- B Major Pentatonic
- B Mixolydian Pentatonic
- B Natural Minor
- B Major (Ionian)
- B Blues
- B Dorian
- B Mixolydian
- B Harmonic Minor
- B Lydian
- B Locrian
- B Diminished (Half-Whole)
- B Diminished (Whole-Half)
- B Whole Tone
- B Augmented (Hexatonic)
- B Altered (Super Locrian)
- B Phrygian Dominant
- B Lydian Dominant
- B Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- B Bebop Dominant
- B Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- B Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)