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A phrygian dominant scale

The A phrygian dominant scale is A B♭ C♯ D E F G: seven notes, flamenco and Middle Eastern. Its formula is 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

Make a beat in A major

Opens the free editor with a pop beat in A major to play A phrygian dominant over. No account needed to start.

The notes of A phrygian dominant

From A up to A: half, step and a half, half, whole, half, whole, whole. Tap a key to hear it.

A B♭ C♯ D E F G A

ADEFGAB♭C♯
The notes of A phrygian dominant scale by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1ARoot
♭2B♭Minor second
3C♯Major third
4DPerfect fourth
5EPerfect fifth
♭6FMinor sixth
♭7GMinor seventh

How A phrygian dominant is built

The D harmonic minor scale played from its fifth note, A: the same notes with A as home. Against A major, the major scale on the same note, it has B♭ instead of B, F instead of F♯ and G instead of G♯.

The harmonic minor scale played from its fifth note: phrygian with a major third. The half step above the root and the step and a half after it give the sound of flamenco, klezmer and Middle Eastern music. The phrygian dominant scale in every key.

Chords in A phrygian dominant

One chord on each note of the scale, built from its own notes. The numeral says which note it starts on, against the A major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

Play A phrygian dominant over a beat

A beat on the chords of A major. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.

Hear it as

Questions about A phrygian dominant

What notes are in the A phrygian dominant scale?

A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F and G. Its formula is 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, counted from the major scale on A, and its steps from A up to A are: half, step and a half, half, whole, half, whole, whole.

What scale is A phrygian dominant from?

A phrygian dominant uses the notes of D harmonic minor, starting on its fifth note, A. The notes are the same; making A home is what gives it its own sound.

How is A phrygian dominant different from A major?

B♭ instead of B, F instead of F♯ and G instead of G♯: three notes of the A major scale change, and those notes give A phrygian dominant its sound: flamenco and Middle Eastern.

Build a song in A phrygian dominant

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.