F# Phrygian Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
F# Phrygian Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F# Phrygian scale is the third mode of the major scale, defined by its immediate dark and tense character. On Bass, its notes are F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E. It has a strong Spanish or ethnic flavor, making it the definitive sound of Flamenco. In modern contexts, it is widely used in heavy metal to create an aggressive, brooding atmosphere. The diatonic chords of F# Phrygian are F#m7, GMaj7, A7, Bm7, C#m7b5, DMaj7, Em7. Commonly used in Flamenco, Metal, Djent, Middle Eastern. Notable players include Al Di Meola, Metallica, Meshuggah, Paco de Lucia. Use over sus(b9), m7 chords in Phrygian contexts. Often played over a droning root note or power chord. The b2 → 1 resolution is the mode's signature move.
Notes: F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Diatonic Chords
F♯m7 — GMaj7 — A7 — Bm7 — C♯m7♭5 — DMaj7 — Em7
How to Play F# Phrygian on Bass
On bass, locate F# on the E string at fret 2. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The F# Phrygian scale contains 2 sharps (F#, C#). Its relative major is A major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the F# Phrygian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Try these progressions with the F# Phrygian scale: F#m7 - Bm7 - C#m7b5 - F#m7 (I-IV-V-I) or F#m7 - GMaj7 - Bm7 - C#m7b5 for a more stepwise movement.
Bass Tips
Practice the F# Phrygian scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations.
The F# Phrygian scale contains 7 notes (F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for F# Phrygian
The F# Phrygian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.