A Phrygian Scale on Guitar — 2 Shapes to Play the Whole Neck
A Phrygian is one of the seven modes of the major scale — on guitar its notes are A Bb C D E F G, built from the formula 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. Computed live for this exact root and scale, Fretprism finds 2 repeating shapes — the small pattern set you actually need to play it across the whole neck.
A Phrygian Scale Notes
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 1 |
| 2 | Bb | b2 |
| 3 | C | b3 |
| 4 | D | 4 |
| 5 | E | 5 |
| 6 | F | b6 |
| 7 | G | b7 |
A Phrygian Formula
Degree formula: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole
A Phrygian on the Guitar Fretboard
The notes of Phrygian repeat across the guitar fretboard in connected positions. Use the shape below to identify root notes, scale degrees, and neighboring shapes.
- Frets 3–8 (span 5 frets)
- Lowest note Bb, highest note A
- 2 A root notes, on the D string (fret 7), E string (fret 5)
How to practice this shape
- Start on the root — A at fret 7 on the D string. Play up to the highest note in the shape, then back down, staying inside frets 3–8.
- Your hand shifts 2 times as you cross strings: E→A (-1), D→G (-2). Those crossings — not the notes — are what this position is really asking you to learn.
- Once it feels automatic, move on to the next of the 2 shapes — together they cover the whole neck, and the same pattern repeats from there.
What Gives A Phrygian Its Sound?
The characteristic sound of A Phrygian comes from its minor 2nd.
Diatonic chords
These are the 7 chords built from A Phrygian's own notes — the ones that will sound like they belong when you're writing a progression, backing a melody, or jamming in this key. The Roman numeral shows each chord's role in the key: capital for major, lowercase for minor, ° for diminished, + for augmented. Not every scale produces a clean chord on every degree — where that happens, we show it honestly instead of forcing a name that doesn't fit.
A Phrygian Scale Relationships
- Parent scale: F Major (Ionian)
A Phrygian FAQ
A Phrygian contains the notes A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G.
A Phrygian is a mode of F Major (Ionian).
A Phrygian has a flatted 3rd degree, giving it a minor character. It's derived from F Major (Ionian).
The diatonic chords in A Phrygian are Am, Bb, C, Dm, Edim, F, Gm.