D Phrygian Dominant Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Phrygian Dominant Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Phrygian Dominant scale, also known as the Spanish Gypsy scale, is the definitive sound of Flamenco, Klezmer, and Middle Eastern music. On Guitar, the notes are D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C. It sounds exotic, passionate, and aggressive, and is a favorite for metal guitarists and composers of high-drama scores. Commonly used in Flamenco, Metal, Middle Eastern, Klezmer, Film Scores. Notable players include Marty Friedman, Paco de Lucia, Ritchie Blackmore, Al Di Meola. Use over dominant chords in flamenco/metal contexts, especially V7 in harmonic minor. The go-to for 'Spanish' or 'Arabic' sounding lines.
Notes: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-WH-H-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: spanish, phrygian major
How to Play D Phrygian Dominant on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 on the 6th (low E) to find your D root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open D string.
The D Phrygian Dominant scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative major is F# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D Phrygian Dominant 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.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on D to let the characteristic intervals of the Phrygian Dominant scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Phrygian Dominant scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The D Phrygian Dominant scale contains 7 notes (D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Phrygian Dominant
The D Phrygian Dominant 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.
Explore D Phrygian Dominant Further
- Harmonize the D Phrygian Dominant scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Phrygian Dominant on Ukulele
- D Phrygian Dominant on Bass
- D Phrygian Dominant on Piano
Explore D Phrygian Dominant in Other Tunings
- D Phrygian Dominant in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Phrygian Dominant in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Phrygian Dominant in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Phrygian Dominant in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Phrygian Dominant in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)