The Phrygian dominant fret pattern on one string
On a single string every step of the scale becomes a distance you can see: a half step is one fret, a whole step two frets and the augmented second three frets. Phrygian dominant climbs 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2 and 2 frets to the octave, which is ½, 1½, ½, 1, ½, 1 and 1 tones.
In E on the low E string that gives frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D and E again. The three-fret jump from F to G# is the augmented second, the gap that makes the scale sound Spanish, Arabic or klezmer.
Phrygian dominant on each string in E
The pattern is the same on all six strings; only the note it starts from changes. The card shows E Phrygian dominant on each string from the open string to fret 12, with the step to the next note between the dots.
Phrygian dominant on the low E string
The 6th string starts on the root: E open, F at fret 1, G# at 4, A at 5, B at 7, C at 8, D at 10 and E again at the 12th fret. It is the clearest string to learn the pattern on, root to root.
Phrygian dominant on the A string
The open A is the 4th of the scale, and the root E sits at the 7th fret. The string reads A 0, B 2, C 3, D 5, E 7, F 8, G# 11 and A 12, with the augmented second from F to G# between frets 8 and 11.
Phrygian dominant on the D string
The open D is the flat 7th, and the root E is at fret 2. The string reads D 0, E 2, F 3, G# 6, A 7, B 9, C 10 and D 12, so from fret 2 you can climb root to root up to the E at fret 14.
Phrygian dominant on the G string
The open G is not in the scale, because Phrygian dominant has G# in its place. The string starts on G# at the 1st fret and reads G# 1, A 2, B 4, C 5, D 7, E 9 and F 10, with the root E at fret 9.
Phrygian dominant on the B string
The open B is the 5th of the scale, and the root E is at fret 5. The string reads B 0, C 1, D 3, E 5, F 6, G# 9, A 10 and B 12, with the augmented second from F to G# between frets 6 and 9.
Phrygian dominant on the high E string
The 1st string has the same notes on the same frets as the 6th, two octaves higher: E open, F 1, G# 4, A 5, B 7, C 8, D 10 and E 12. Melodies played here sit at the top of the guitar, where they sing over the chords.
Why practise the Phrygian dominant on one string
On one string the ear hears each interval in a row and the eye sees its size, so the augmented second stops being a fingering problem and becomes a three-fret jump you can aim for. A melody on one string also shows its direction plainly: up the neck is up in pitch.
It is also the natural way to slide between notes, and it links the neck regions along the length of the neck. It is a study, not a system: real phrases use several strings, so take what you learn here back to the Phrygian dominant guitar positions.
One-string exercises for the Phrygian dominant
Four short drills for the 6th and 5th strings. Play each one slowly and evenly first, with the tool at 70 BPM, then raise the tempo.
1. Up and down. Play the scale on the low E string from the open string to fret 12 and back, one note per beat, saying the name of each note.
2. Phrases that come home. Play three or four notes that end on the root, for example F, G#, A, G#, F, E: frets 1, 4, 5, 4, 1 and the open E.
3. The same phrase on another string. Find that phrase on the 5th string, where it sits between frets 7 and 12: F at 8, G# at 11, A at 12, and back down to the E at fret 7.
4. Slide the augmented second. On the 6th string, slide from F at fret 1 up to G# at fret 4 and back, and listen for the colour of that three-fret gap.
Phrygian dominant on one string in every key
In another key the pattern keeps its shape and starts from another fret. Find the root on the 6th or 5th string and climb 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2 and 2 frets from it. The table gives the frets for every key, and each key links to its six strings below.
| Key | 6th string (E) | 5th string (A) |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 9 12 13 15 16 18 20 | 3 4 7 8 10 11 13 15 |
| C# | 9 10 13 14 16 17 19 21 | 4 5 8 9 11 12 14 16 |
| D | 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 22 | 5 6 9 10 12 13 15 17 |
| Eb | 11 12 15 16 18 19 21 23 | 6 7 10 11 13 14 16 18 |
| E | 0 1 4 5 7 8 10 12 | 7 8 11 12 14 15 17 19 |
| F | 1 2 5 6 8 9 11 13 | 8 9 12 13 15 16 18 20 |
| F# | 2 3 6 7 9 10 12 14 | 9 10 13 14 16 17 19 21 |
| G | 3 4 7 8 10 11 13 15 | 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 22 |
| G# | 4 5 8 9 11 12 14 16 | 11 12 15 16 18 19 21 23 |
| A | 5 6 9 10 12 13 15 17 | 0 1 4 5 7 8 10 12 |
| Bb | 6 7 10 11 13 14 16 18 | 1 2 5 6 8 9 11 13 |
| B | 7 8 11 12 14 15 17 19 | 2 3 6 7 9 10 12 14 |
Phrygian dominant on one string in all 12 keys
For every key: its notes, the frets from the root to its octave on the two bass strings, and the scale on each of the six strings.
C Phrygian dominant on one string
C Phrygian dominant is C Db E F G Ab Bb. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 8: frets 8 9 12 13 15 16 18 20. On the 5th string it starts on fret 3: frets 3 4 7 8 10 11 13 15.
C scaleC open positionC positionsC fretboardC one stringC double stopsC chordsC inversionsC drop 2C arpeggiosC progressionsC backing track
C# Phrygian dominant on one string
C# Phrygian dominant is C# D E# F# G# A B. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 9: frets 9 10 13 14 16 17 19 21. On the 5th string it starts on fret 4: frets 4 5 8 9 11 12 14 16.
C# scaleC# open positionC# positionsC# fretboardC# one stringC# double stopsC# chordsC# inversionsC# drop 2C# arpeggiosC# progressionsC# backing track
D Phrygian dominant on one string
D Phrygian dominant is D Eb F# G A Bb C. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 10: frets 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 22. On the 5th string it starts on fret 5: frets 5 6 9 10 12 13 15 17.
D scaleD open positionD positionsD fretboardD one stringD double stopsD chordsD inversionsD drop 2D arpeggiosD progressionsD backing track
Eb Phrygian dominant on one string
Eb Phrygian dominant is Eb Fb G Ab Bb Cb Db. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 11: frets 11 12 15 16 18 19 21 23. On the 5th string it starts on fret 6: frets 6 7 10 11 13 14 16 18.
Eb scaleEb open positionEb positionsEb fretboardEb one stringEb double stopsEb chordsEb inversionsEb drop 2Eb arpeggiosEb progressionsEb backing track
E Phrygian dominant on one string
E Phrygian dominant is E F G# A B C D. On the 6th string it runs from the root on the open string: frets 0 1 4 5 7 8 10 12. On the 5th string it starts on fret 7: frets 7 8 11 12 14 15 17 19.
E scaleE open positionE positionsE fretboardE one stringE double stopsE chordsE inversionsE drop 2E arpeggiosE progressionsE licksE ornamentsE flamenco techniqueE backing track
F Phrygian dominant on one string
F Phrygian dominant is F Gb A Bb C Db Eb. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 1: frets 1 2 5 6 8 9 11 13. On the 5th string it starts on fret 8: frets 8 9 12 13 15 16 18 20.
F scaleF open positionF positionsF fretboardF one stringF double stopsF chordsF inversionsF drop 2F arpeggiosF progressionsF backing track
F# Phrygian dominant on one string
F# Phrygian dominant is F# G A# B C# D E. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 2: frets 2 3 6 7 9 10 12 14. On the 5th string it starts on fret 9: frets 9 10 13 14 16 17 19 21.
F# scaleF# open positionF# positionsF# fretboardF# one stringF# double stopsF# chordsF# inversionsF# drop 2F# arpeggiosF# progressionsF# backing track
G Phrygian dominant on one string
G Phrygian dominant is G Ab B C D Eb F. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 3: frets 3 4 7 8 10 11 13 15. On the 5th string it starts on fret 10: frets 10 11 14 15 17 18 20 22.
G scaleG open positionG positionsG fretboardG one stringG double stopsG chordsG inversionsG drop 2G arpeggiosG progressionsG backing track
G# Phrygian dominant on one string
G# Phrygian dominant is G# A B# C# D# E F#. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 4: frets 4 5 8 9 11 12 14 16. On the 5th string it starts on fret 11: frets 11 12 15 16 18 19 21 23.
G# scaleG# open positionG# positionsG# fretboardG# one stringG# double stopsG# chordsG# inversionsG# drop 2G# arpeggiosG# progressionsG# backing track
A Phrygian dominant on one string
A Phrygian dominant is A Bb C# D E F G. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 5: frets 5 6 9 10 12 13 15 17. On the 5th string it starts on the open string: frets 0 1 4 5 7 8 10 12.
A scaleA open positionA positionsA fretboardA one stringA double stopsA chordsA inversionsA drop 2A arpeggiosA progressionsA licksA ornamentsA flamenco techniqueA backing track
Bb Phrygian dominant on one string
Bb Phrygian dominant is Bb Cb D Eb F Gb Ab. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 6: frets 6 7 10 11 13 14 16 18. On the 5th string it starts on fret 1: frets 1 2 5 6 8 9 11 13.
Bb scaleBb open positionBb positionsBb fretboardBb one stringBb double stopsBb chordsBb inversionsBb drop 2Bb arpeggiosBb progressionsBb backing track
B Phrygian dominant on one string
B Phrygian dominant is B C D# E F# G A. On the 6th string it runs from the root on fret 7: frets 7 8 11 12 14 15 17 19. On the 5th string it starts on fret 2: frets 2 3 6 7 9 10 12 14.
B scaleB open positionB positionsB fretboardB one stringB double stopsB chordsB inversionsB drop 2B arpeggiosB progressionsB backing track
Phrygian Dominant on One String: frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions guitarists ask most about the Phrygian dominant on one string.
Why does the Phrygian dominant jump three frets on one string?
Between its 2nd and 3rd notes the scale has an augmented second, three half steps. On one string that is three frets: F to G# in E, frets 1 to 4 on the low E string.
Which string should I start on?
The 6th string in E: it starts on the root, open, and ends on the root at fret 12. Then play the 5th string in A, which also starts on its root.
Is the pattern the same on every string?
Yes. The distances between the notes, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2 and 2 frets, are the same on every string; only the starting fret changes, because each string begins on a different note.
Is it useful to play scales on one string?
As a study, yes: it trains the ear on the intervals and shows the neck lengthwise. For real playing combine it with the neck regions, where the whole scale sits under one hand.
How do I go from one string to the neck regions?
Follow the run along one string and stop where it crosses each region, then fill in the other strings of that region. The positions page shows the five regions in every key.