Want to learn an underrated, epic bass scale? Then you need this Phrygian Dominant scale bass lesson.
You’ll learn:
- How to play Phrygian dominant all over the bass neck
- The difference between Phrygian dominant and Phrygian
- How to practice the scale
Table of Contents
What is the Phrygian Dominant scale?
The Phrygian Dominant scale is a variation of the Phrygian scale, where the minor 3rd is replaced with a major 3rd. It’s also the 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale.
The Phrygian Dominant scale is commonly used in metal, particularly in neoclassical and progressive metal because of Its eerie and avantgarde sound. This sound comes from the scale’s major 3rd interval.
Phrygian Dominant scale compared to the Phrygian scale
| Phrygian Dominant | 1 | b2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
| Phrygian | 1 | b2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
The Phrygian dominant scale is easy to learn if you already know the Phrygian scale/ mode. Just raise the 3rd!
It’s also easy to play the scale if you know the harmonic minor scale. It shares the same notes but starts on the 5th degree, making it the 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale.
Like any scale, start by learning where the intervals are on the fretboard.
Practice the one octave shape, then move onto applying it all over the bass neck.
Here are some side-by-side diagrams showing the difference between Phrygian and Phrygian Dominant.
Building the Phrygian Dominant scale
There are typically two ways you’ll construct and visualize a bass phrygian dominant scale, and any other scale:
- Using the phrygian dominant scale formula
- Using whole-steps and half-steps
The two go hand-in-hand. Once you’ve built the phrygian dominant scale using its intervallic formula, you can break it down into a series of whole and half-steps.
Bass phrygian dominant scale formula and intervals
The Phrygian Dominant scale has seven total scale degrees.
The Phrygian Dominant formula is:
1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7
The 3rd is the interval that makes it stand out as the Phrygian Dominant scale. And there’s a b2, b6, and b7, which gives the scale its Phrygian/ minor sound.
Whole-step and half-step construction of the minor scale
You can visualize the Phrygian Dominant scale, and any other scale by breaking it down to its whole-step and half-step construction.
The whole-step and half-step formula for the Phrygian Dominant scale is: H-W½-H-W-H-W-W
W= Whole | H= Half | W½= 3 Frets
The shift from the half-step interval (H) to the W½ interval is what gives Phrygian dominant its signature sound, and distinguishes it from the Phrygian scale.
To construct the Phrygian Dominant scale this way you’ll choose a root note, then follow the whole/half-steps from the root note! Do this on every single bass string.
One octave “E” Phrygian Dominant bass shape
Here you’ll look at the one-octave bass shape for the “E” Phrygian Dominant scale.
One-octave shapes are fantastic for practicing scales on bass. Pick your root note, in this case “E”, and follow the finger structure.
Notes: E-F-G#-A-B-C-D-E
Phrygian dominant scale Bass fretboard diagram
E Phrygian Dominant scale PDF
Practicing The Phrygian Dominant Scale on Bass Guitar
You can practice the Phrygian dominant scale over a few different types of backing tracks:
- Backing tracks that use power chords (rock and metal tracks)
- Phrygian backing tracks
- Phrygian dominant backing tracks
- Minor and harmonic minor backing tracks, but start at the 5th from the root note. For example, you can play practice “E Phrygian dominant” over an A harmonic minor backing track, because the note “E” is the 5th interval for “A”.
As long as you’re playing over a backing track with a chord progression that works for Phrygian Dominant, you can practice the scale.
Composing riffs and songs is another fun way to practice the scale. As with any scale, remember to emphasize the notes that give Phrygian Dominant its distinct sound. Remember, these notes are the major 3rd, b2, and b6.
Thanks for reading, and keep shredding on your bass!