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C phrygian dominant scale

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

Make a beat in C major

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

The notes of C phrygian dominant

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

C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭ C

CEFGCD♭A♭B♭
The notes of C phrygian dominant scale by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1CRoot
♭2D♭Minor second
3EMajor third
4FPerfect fourth
5GPerfect fifth
♭6A♭Minor sixth
♭7B♭Minor seventh

How C phrygian dominant is built

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

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 C 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 C major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

Play C phrygian dominant over a beat

A beat on the chords of C 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 C phrygian dominant

What notes are in the C phrygian dominant scale?

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

What scale is C phrygian dominant from?

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

How is C phrygian dominant different from C major?

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

Build a song in C phrygian dominant

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