Phrygian dominant scale

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The Phrygian dominant scale is constructed by raising the third of the Phrygian scale and is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant.

It is often known as a Spanish Phrygian scale, as it is commonly used in flamenco music. It is also known as Ahava Rabboh or Freygish when used in Hebrew prayers and Klezmer music (earning it the additional title of the Jewish scale), or as the Hijaz scale when used in Turkish or Arabic music. Often, it has found application in modern progressive rock/metal, most notably with Joe Satriani, who cites the Phrygian Dominant as his favorite scale, along with Fred Ardiel, a guitar teacher in the Capilano College Jazz Studies program. The scale is unusual as the interval between the second and third degrees is an augmented second - giving it a "patchy" quality, like its sister, the harmonic minor scale.

The sequence of steps comprising the Phrygian dominant scale is

When related to the scale degrees of the major scale, it reads like so:

1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 1

Beginning on C, the scale is as follows:

C Phrygian dominant scale, the fifth mode of F harmonic minor

[edit] Examples in popular music

Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit and Shakira's Ojos Así/Eyes Like Yours use the Phrygian dominant scale.

[edit] External links

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