About the C Phrygian Dominant Scale
The C phrygian dominant scale is a 7-note scale. 5th mode of Harmonic Minor, Spanish/Middle Eastern dominant sound. Its notes are C, C#, E, F, G, G# and A#, built from the formula 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C – C# – E – F – G – G# – A#
- Formula
- 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- H W+H H W H W W (1–3–1–2–1–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- C
C Phrygian Dominant Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| ♭2 | C# | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | E | Major 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | G# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C Phrygian Dominant Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 |
How to practice the phrygian dominant scale
- Use over V7 in minor key progressions
- Emphasize the ♭2 and major 3rd contrast
- Practice flamenco-style chord progressions
- Work on Middle Eastern melodic phrases
- Great for V7♭9 to minor resolutions
Scales with the same notes as C Phrygian Dominant Scale
These scales share every note with the C phrygian dominant scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Phrygian Dominant scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Major Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Natural Minor
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Dorian
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Locrian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Whole Tone
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)