F# Phrygian Guitar Scale
Guitar 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 Guitar, 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 Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 2 on the 6th (low E) to find your F# 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 9th fret on the A string.
The F# Phrygian scale contains 2 sharps (F#, C#). Its relative major is A major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the F# Phrygian scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (F#-A, G-B) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
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.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the F# Phrygian scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The F# Phrygian scale contains 7 notes (F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar 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.
Explore F# Phrygian Further
- Harmonize the F# Phrygian scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F# Phrygian on Ukulele
- F# Phrygian on Bass
- F# Phrygian on Piano
Explore F# Phrygian in Other Tunings
- F# Phrygian in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Phrygian in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F# Phrygian in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F# Phrygian in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F# Phrygian in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F# Phrygian in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F# Phrygian in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F# Phrygian in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F# Phrygian in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F# Phrygian in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F# Phrygian in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F# Phrygian in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F# Phrygian in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Phrygian in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)