E Phrygian Guitar Scale

Guitar scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate

What chords fit over E Phrygian?

E Phrygian Scale — Notes and Intervals

The E Phrygian scale is the third mode of the major scale, defined by its immediate dark and tense character. On Guitar, its notes are E, F, G, A, B, C, D. It has a strong Spanish or ethnic flavor, making it the definitive sound of Flamenco. In modern contexts, it is widely used in heavy metal to create an aggressive, brooding atmosphere. The diatonic chords of E Phrygian are Em7, FMaj7, G7, Am7, Bm7b5, CMaj7, Dm7. Commonly used in Flamenco, Metal, Djent, Middle Eastern. Notable players include Al Di Meola, Metallica, Meshuggah, Paco de Lucia. Use over sus(b9), m7 chords in Phrygian contexts. Often played over a droning root note or power chord. The b2 → 1 resolution is the mode's signature move.

Notes: E, F, G, A, B, C, D

Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m

Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Formula: H-W-W-W-H-W-W

Number of notes: 7

Diatonic Chords

Em7 — FMaj7 — G7 — Am7 — Bm7♭5 — CMaj7 — Dm7

Musical Character

DarkAggressiveUrgentExotic

The b2 interval from the root creates an immediate sense of tension and 'danger'. This single semitone is what gives Phrygian its unmistakable flamenco/metal character.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Flamenco, Metal, Djent, Middle Eastern

Notable players: Al Di Meola, Metallica, Meshuggah, Paco de Lucia

How to Use the E Phrygian Scale

Use over sus(b9), m7 chords in Phrygian contexts. Often played over a droning root note or power chord. The b2 → 1 resolution is the mode's signature move.

Origin & Background

Named after the ancient Phrygians of Anatolia. Became the sound of Spanish guitar and modern extreme metal.

How to Play E Phrygian on Guitar

Start the E Phrygian scale in open position, taking advantage of the open E string. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.

The E Phrygian scale uses no sharps or flats, consisting entirely of natural notes. Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine

Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the E Phrygian scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.

Try these progressions with the E Phrygian scale: Em7 - Am7 - Bm7b5 - Em7 (I-IV-V-I) or Em7 - FMaj7 - Am7 - Bm7b5 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in metal contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the E Phrygian scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications. Aim for a dark quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

Phrygian is the 3rd mode of the Major scale. View E Major scale

The E Phrygian scale contains 7 notes (E, F, G, A, B, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Phrygian

The E Phrygian scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore E Phrygian Further

Explore E Phrygian in Other Tunings

← Back to all Guitar scales