Exploring the Phrygian Scale for Todays music

Phrygian Scale

This scale gives a very Spanish sounding feel to the music. A lot of Contemporary Jazz compositions feature this scale. We will now go into this scale to learn more about it. This scale is taken from the key of CMaj, the E is the third note of the scale of C. To play the scale start from the E note, than fill in the F,G,A,B,C,D of the C scale.

The scale:

E,F,G,A,B,C,D,E

E=1=Root

F=b2=b2

G=3=b3

A=4 or 11

B=5dim

C=b6Maj

D=b7m

The diatonic chords in the key of Em:

Em=1m

GMaj=b3

Bdim=5dim

Dm=b7

FMaj=b9

Am=11m

C=b13 or b6

D=b7

Beware the b9 intervals

The notes F-E, B-C must be used with caution or try to avoid it. The E-F chords bring out the characteristics of this scale.

Keeping the Phrygian tonality

All of these diatonic triads can be played over an E bass. Chords showing the characteristics of the scale are E-F triads over E bass.Triads may be combined for special effects or just using it to create tensions.

Extending the scale:

E, F, G,A,B,C, D

1,b9,#9,4,5,b6,b7

All though the above scale is for the phrygian sound you could experiment to use it, with dominant sounding chords. This is possible when you have chords like #9,b9.

For a chord like E7#9b9 use the G=#9, F=b9 and the remaining notes of the Phrygian scale, to support the basic chords they sound cool and really nice. The normal basic scale for a b9,#9 is, the Melodic minor scale, which sounds great but I love the Altered Scales.

Altered scales

All this beautiful scales to help you along in your theory of music. In Jazz the mixtures of scales,are really important for your development and creativeness.

Ready to move on to the Mixolydian scale.

click to go to Mixolydian Scale

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