B Phrygian scale on cavaquinho
The B Phrygian scale has 7 notes: B C D E F♯ G A (B, C, D, E, F sharp, G, and A).
- B 1
- C ♭2
- D ♭3
- E 4
- F♯ F sharp 5
- G ♭6
- A ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (B) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 5 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 5 (C), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Position 6 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 9 (E)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A), 9 (B)
Position 7 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B), 10 (C)
Position 1 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D)
Position 2 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D), 14 (E)
Position 3 (frets 12 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D)
- string 1: 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
Position 4 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 16 (F♯), 17 (G)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B), 17 (C)
- string 2: 15 (D), 17 (E)
- string 1: 16 (F♯), 17 (G)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B).
On the cavaquinho the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- B
- H
- C
- W
- D
- W
- E
- W
- F♯
- H
- G
- W
- A
- W
- B
Degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. Steps: H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the Phrygian scale
A minor mode with a minor 2nd. Dark and Spanish-sounding, common in metal and flamenco.
Harmonized scale (chords in the key)
The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.
Scales with the same notes
More B scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Phrygian in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the B Phrygian scale?
The notes of the B Phrygian scale are B, C, D, E, F sharp, G, and A. The root, degree 1, is B.
What is the formula of the B Phrygian scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the B Phrygian scale on cavaquinho?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (B). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the B Phrygian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: Bm, C, D, Em, F♯°, G, Am.