- Intro
Phrygian Dominant Intro
Go to Phrygian Dominant.Go to Phrygian Dominant History.
- Em shape
Phrygian Dominant E(m) shape
Learn the E(m) shaped Phrygian Dominant mode!Go to PD E(m) shape.
- Am shape
Phrygian Dominant A(m) shape
Learn the A(m) shaped Phrygian Dominant mode!Go to PD A(m) shape.
- Dm shape
Phrygian Dominant D(m) shape
Learn the D(m) shaped Phrygian Dominant mode!Go to PD D(m) shape.
- Gm shape
Phrygian Dominant G(m) shape
Learn the G(m) shaped Phrygian Dominant mode!Go to PD G(m) shape.
- Cm shape
Phrygian Dominant C(m) shape
Learn the C(m) shaped Phrygian Dominant mode!Go to PD C(m) shape.
- Connect Shapes
Connect PD Shapes
Learn how to Connect all PD shapes!Go to Connect PD Shapes.
- Cycle Of 4ths
PD Cycle Of 4ths
Run the PD mode through the Cycle Of 4ths!Go to PD Cycle Of 4ths.
- Improvisation
Phrygian Dominant Improvisation
Learn how to improvise with the PD mode!Go to PD Improvisation.
The Phrygian Dominant mode belongs to chord IIIx
Phrygian Dominant is a modified Phrygian scale.
It is the most common mode in popular music that isn’t directly linked the major scale.
Use Phrygian Dominant whenever you want an “aggressive” or “Spanish” sounding major scale or whenever you play over the IIIx chord.
Even though PD is a major scale, the similarity to Phrygian makes it easier to learn as if it comes from a minor pentatonic shape.
PD is also used when Phrygian has been replaced, so this approach makes more musical sense than building it from a major scale shape.
| Phrygian: |
1 |
b2 |
m3 |
4 |
5 |
b6 |
b7 |
| Phrygian Dominant: |
1 |
b2 |
3 | 4 |
5 |
b6 |
b7 |
Character: Phrygian Dominant has a pulling effect towards a minor chord a 4th up (IIIx to VI)
Soloing: Use Phrygian Dominant whenever you play over the IIIx chord.
Practice the PD scale as a variation of Phrygian:
- Chord
- Phrygian
- Phrygian Dominant
- Chord
To see the Phrygian Dominant mode move around the guitar neck in different keys and shapes, use Chordacus.
