D Phrygian scale on cavaquinho
The D Phrygian scale has 7 notes: D E♭ F G A B♭ C (D, E flat, F, G, A, B flat, and C).
- D 1
- E♭ E flat ♭2
- F ♭3
- G 4
- A 5
- B♭ B flat ♭6
- C ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (D) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 0 to 4), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: open (D), 1 (E♭), 3 (F)
- string 3: open (G), 2 (A), 3 (B♭)
- string 2: 1 (C), 3 (D), 4 (E♭)
- string 1: 3 (F)
Position 2 (frets 1 to 5), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 1 (E♭), 3 (F), 5 (G)
- string 3: 2 (A), 3 (B♭), 5 (C)
- string 2: 3 (D), 4 (E♭)
- string 1: 3 (F), 5 (G)
Position 3 (frets 3 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (F), 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 3: 3 (B♭), 5 (C), 7 (D)
- string 2: 4 (E♭), 6 (F)
- string 1: 5 (G), 7 (A)
Position 4 (frets 5 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 8 (B♭)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 8 (E♭)
- string 2: 6 (F), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A), 8 (B♭)
Position 5 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 8 (B♭), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 8 (E♭), 10 (F)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A), 11 (B♭)
- string 1: 10 (C)
Position 6 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 8 (B♭), 10 (C), 12 (D)
- string 3: 8 (E♭), 10 (F), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 11 (B♭)
- string 1: 10 (C), 12 (D)
Position 7 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
- string 3: 10 (F), 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 11 (B♭), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
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 (D).
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
- D
- H
- E♭
- W
- F
- W
- G
- W
- A
- H
- B♭
- W
- C
- W
- D
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 D 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 D Phrygian scale?
The notes of the D Phrygian scale are D, E flat, F, G, A, B flat, and C. The root, degree 1, is D.
What is the formula of the D 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 D 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 (D). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the D Phrygian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: Dm, E♭, F, Gm, A°, B♭, Cm.