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Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jun 24 2007, 07:23 PM

Also called the Phrygian Natural 3rd, The Phrygian Dominant is mode V of the Harmonic minor scale. It is so named because it looks like a regular Phrygian mode scale with a raised or natural 3rd (Since the phyrgian actually has a flattened 3rd). The term dominant is used because like Phrygian mode, this scale has a flattened 7th.

The Phrygian dominant is used occasionally by Jimmy Page, and is purportedly Joe Satriani's favorite scale, the large 3 semitone interval between the 2nd and 3rd giving an unusual sound.

Number of tones : 7

Intervals : 1,3,1,2,1,2,2

Formula : 1,b2,3,4,5,b6,b7

Characteristic Chords : Augmented, 7, Augmented 7, 7b9

Also Known As: Major Phrygian, Jewish Scale, Gypsy Scale



 PhrygianDominant.mp3 ( 153.67K ) : 4017

Posted by: Ryan Jun 24 2007, 09:05 PM

Why is it that your pattern is different from wallimans o nhis phyrgian dominant lesson??

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jun 24 2007, 09:45 PM

Both are correct -

With this kind of scale we generally focus more on picking out the notes in the scale so that you are aware of the choices of notes available.

My diagram is a traditional scale with one of each note, 3 notes per string, Dave's is closer to a box, with a couple of the notes duplicated. In either case, all notes for the scale are correctly represented.

This is a good illustration of the point that there is no one right way to play a scale - there are many different patterns, all equally valid. As we advance, the idea is to become less hung up on boxes and positions, and start to see the fretboard as a unit, with a population of notes that fit whatever scale you areplaying at the time.

EDIT : There was a slight error in the scale (now fixed) - thanks for spotting it Kaneda!

Posted by: Ryan Jun 24 2007, 09:52 PM

Ok, i understand some now

Posted by: Ibanex Jun 26 2007, 02:32 AM

How about an extra bullet with alternative names like (in this case):
major phrygian, jewish scale, gypsy scale,...

BTW I got these names from you.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Jun 26 2007, 03:37 AM

Your wish is my command ...

Posted by: Evan Jul 2 2007, 10:34 PM

Well, since the name game is started already, here's even more useless (but interesting) info:

In Klezmer/Yiddish/Freilech (Jewish Music) it is called the 'Ahava Rabboh' or 'Freygish'.

This is because this kind of music has it's own names for it's own special melodic modes. The name 'Ahava Rabboh' is named after a prayer. The other modes of this style are also named after prayers or phrases from the Torah (Jewish Bible). The name 'Freygish' is a Yiddish translation of the German language name of the Phyrigian mode -'Phrygisch'.

In Arabic and Turkish music, there are special 'modes' called 'Maqam' (interesting stuff btw). In that context you might see the names: 'Hijaz Scale' or 'Hijaz Maqam'.

(Note: the 'Arabic scales' most people know are not truly correct -they have been rounded to the nearest chromatic note so they can be playable on the guitar. Arabic music uses 24 quarter steps per octave, but there are additional microtonal steps used that aren't covered by their notation. Sometimes (very rare) in standard music notation for other instruments (violin) you'll see the half-flat and half-sharp symbols because of things like this. In any case, people equate the Hijaz with the the Phrygian Dominant though.)

In the context of Flamenco and other traditional types of Spanish music it can be called the 'Spanish Gypsy' or 'Spanish Phrygian' scale. Just calling it the 'Gypsy Scale' can lead to confusion though beacuse there are other gypsy scales:

Hungarian Gypsy (listen to jazz/Belgian gypsy master guitarist Django Reinhardt for some famous examples)
(1,2,b3,#4,5,b6,7)

Hungarian Gypsy Persian
(1,b2,3,4,5,b6,7)

I think there are more gypsy scales, but I can't remember them...

Anyway, there's your useless facts of the day. -Hey I may not be smart or a good musician, at least I can still remember almost as much as I've forgotten lol.

This is one of my favorite scales ever btw. Al DiMeola (one of the fathers of shredding) used it.

Posted by: shredmandan Jul 22 2007, 02:35 PM

I love this scale andrew This is something i could really work on to shred with.

Thanks

Posted by: ibanezkiller Jul 30 2007, 03:22 AM

My favorite scales ... this was the first scale i learned up and down every box in every positions with different patters(triplets). It is GREAT!

Posted by: redwing Aug 19 2007, 08:11 AM

Hi, isn't this E phrygian dominant the same as A harmonic minor? If so, what kind of relationship does this teach between the E and A in this case? Thanks.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 19 2007, 08:58 AM

No, not the same, but it is a mode of the harmonic minor scale. To hear the difference, play both with the same root note and they will not sound the same. But if you played for instance A harmonic minor and E Phryg Dom, they would share the same notes but have different notes.

Posted by: redwing Aug 19 2007, 09:55 AM

Thanks, my mistake. Diatonic Ionian and Lydian modes don't sound the same with the same root note, either. I see if I play your example starting with A on the fifth string, I'm playing A harmonic minor. So, if we are playing modes of the harmonic minor scale, with an E major being mode V, and an A minor, what key are we in? I think I just figured it out, Key of A harmonic minor, DUH! Forgive me, I'm kind of new at this theory stuff. One year this month. Wish I had learned this stuff thirty years ago! OK, so, if your example was, say, D phryigian dominant, we'd be playing in G harmonic minor, correct? Thanks, again. Much appreciated. Tom.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 19 2007, 11:13 AM

Well, you didn't leave me any gaps to answer questions there, but it sounds like you have it

Just one thing - A harmonic minor and E Phryg Dom are actually different keys even though they share notes (as are for instance C major and D dorian).

You were right about G harmonic minor having D as its relative Phrygian Dominant

Posted by: glazmusik Feb 23 2008, 11:19 PM

This is the coolest sounding scale in the entire world!

I am no where near understanding it, but it's still as cool as possible. I have some extra incentive to work through all these theory lessons now

Posted by: FretDancer69 Feb 28 2008, 01:52 AM

Andrew, in the http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=5012 lesson you said that the Phrygian mode has a flattened 2nd not a third. Which of the two is it? A flattened 2nd or 3rd? can you please clear it up for me.

Thanks Andrew

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Feb 28 2008, 09:43 AM

yeah, love this scale !!! I'd like to do some PhryJUAN lessons and it's posible that I steal your diagram !!!

and I try to answer the fretDancer question... Phrygian has a 2 and 3 flat (1,b2,b3,4,5,b6,b7) and Phrygian dominant or Phrygian MAJOR must has the MAJOR 3rd. (1,b2,3,4,5,b6,b7)

Remember that when you add the "MAJOR" it means that it's the same scale with the MAJOR 3rd
(and if you add the term DOMINANT it means that this scale has the MAJOR 3rd and the DOMINANT=b7)

I think that's correct, but Andrew is the expert... so is it correct ??

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Feb 28 2008, 09:47 AM

OFFTOPIC: I never listen before this expression in English !!! hehehe, in spanish we have a similar one

Posted by: Muris Feb 28 2008, 09:50 AM

Spot on Juan,I think Dominant is related to both major 3rd and b7.

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Feb 28 2008, 07:35 PM

Also the word dominant can stand for the Mixolydian mode as it builts a dominant chord, because this being built on the V degree of the harmonic minor. This scale is also known as Phrygian Mixolydian mode.

Posted by: FretDancer69 Feb 28 2008, 10:02 PM

thanks Juan

Posted by: Muris Feb 29 2008, 01:17 AM

Mixolydian is dominant one at its best,spot on Ivan.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Feb 29 2008, 03:23 AM

Thanks for helping out guys, great explanations form all of you