Guitar scale · Modes

C Phrygian scale on guitar

Every position of the C Phrygian scale on the guitar neck, with tabs and fingering.

Dark minor with a ♭2 that gives it a Spanish, flamenco and metal flavor.

Mode 3 of the major scale: the same notes as A♭ major, starting from its 3rd note.

Notes
CD♭E♭FGA♭B♭
Formula
1♭2♭345♭6♭7
Steps
HWWWHWW

Guitar

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) · 7 positions using 3 notes per string

EADGBe1234567891011121314151645♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6

Position 1 tab · frets 8–13, ascending

e|----------------------------------------------9--11-13-|
B|-------------------------------------9--11-13----------|
G|----------------------------8--10-12-------------------|
D|-------------------8--10-11----------------------------|
A|----------8--10-11-------------------------------------|
E|-8--9--11----------------------------------------------|

Play from the lowest note to the highest, then back down. Use one finger per fret: your index finger covers fret 8, and shift your hand slightly for the wider stretches. R marks the root — the home note to start and end on.

Chords in the C Phrygian scale

Stack every other note of the scale to build a chord on each degree.

i Cm Cm7 C E♭ G
♭II D♭ D♭maj7 D♭ F A♭
♭III E♭ E♭7 E♭ G B♭
iv Fm Fm7 F A♭ C
v° Gdim Gm7♭5 G B♭ D♭
♭VI A♭ A♭maj7 A♭ C E♭
♭vii B♭m B♭m7 B♭ D♭ F

Sounds great over

C Phrygian scale on guitar
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