A# Phrygian Dominant Guitar Scale — Drop B
Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram
A# Phrygian Dominant in Drop B — Notes and Intervals
The A# 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 A#, B, D, D#, F, F#, G#. 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: A#, B, D, D#, F, F#, G#
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
Tuning: Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
Also known as: spanish, phrygian major
About Drop B Tuning
Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) takes the guitar into territory traditionally reserved for 7-string instruments, delivering a subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest. This tuning has become essential in modern extreme metal, deathcore, and djent, where low-end clarity and rhythmic precision are paramount.
Drop B represents the practical limit of what a standard 6-string guitar can handle before tone quality degrades. With the right string gauge (12-60 or heavier) and proper setup, it delivers the crushing lows of a 7-string while keeping the familiar 6-string layout. Bands like Architects, Periphery (on some tracks), and Parkway Drive have used Drop B to create some of the heaviest riffs in modern metal.
Notable artists: Architects, Parkway Drive, Whitechapel, Born of Osiris, Emmure
Best for: Extreme metal riffs, deathcore breakdowns, djent chugs, and any style demanding the lowest possible 6-string tuning
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Standard Tuning
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Drop D
- A# Phrygian Dominant in DADGAD
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Open G
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Baritone (B Standard)
- A# Phrygian Dominant in 7-string
- A# Phrygian Dominant in 8-string
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Drop C
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Open D
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Half Step Down
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Open E
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Open A
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Double Drop D
- A# Phrygian Dominant in Open C