A Phrygian scale on ukulele
The A Phrygian scale has 7 notes: A B♭ C D E F G (A, B flat, C, D, E, F, and G).
- A 1
- B♭ B flat ♭2
- C ♭3
- D 4
- E 5
- F ♭6
- G ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (A) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 4 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 2 (D), 4 (E), 5 (F)
- string 2: 3 (G), 5 (A), 6 (B♭)
- string 4: 5 (C)
- string 1: 5 (D)
Position 5 (frets 4 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 4 (E), 5 (F), 7 (G)
- string 2: 5 (A), 6 (B♭), 8 (C)
- string 4: 7 (D)
- string 1: 7 (E), 8 (F)
Position 6 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 5 (F), 7 (G), 9 (A)
- string 2: 6 (B♭), 8 (C)
- string 4: 7 (D), 9 (E)
- string 1: 8 (F)
Position 7 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 7 (G), 9 (A), 10 (B♭)
- string 2: 8 (C), 10 (D)
- string 4: 9 (E), 10 (F)
- string 1: 10 (G)
Position 1 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 9 (A), 10 (B♭), 12 (C)
- string 2: 10 (D), 12 (E), 13 (F)
- string 4: 12 (G)
- string 1: 12 (A), 13 (B♭)
Position 2 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 10 (B♭), 12 (C), 14 (D)
- string 2: 12 (E), 13 (F)
- string 4: 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 1: 13 (B♭)
Position 3 (frets 12 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 12 (C), 14 (D)
- string 2: 12 (E), 13 (F), 15 (G)
- string 4: 14 (A), 15 (B♭)
- string 1: 15 (C)
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 (A).
On the ukulele 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
- A
- H
- B♭
- W
- C
- W
- D
- W
- E
- H
- F
- W
- G
- W
- A
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 A 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 A Phrygian scale?
The notes of the A Phrygian scale are A, B flat, C, D, E, F, and G. The root, degree 1, is A.
What is the formula of the A 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 A Phrygian scale on ukulele?
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 (A). There are 7 positions on ukulele, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the A Phrygian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: Am, B♭, C, Dm, E°, F, Gm.