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A Phrygian Dominant Scale

Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated June 2026 · Maintained by Justin Evans

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Three quick cards on A Phrygian Dominant Scale
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A – B♭ – C♯ – D – E – F – G – A
Formula:H-A2-H-W-H-W-W
Intervals:P1-m2-M3-P4-P5-m6-m7

Practice A Phrygian Dominant Scale

Reading about it is one thing. Drilling it is what makes it automatic.

Scale Drill →Timed runs — every key, every tempoPractice Room →Plug in a MIDI keyboard for real-time feedback

Introduction

A Phrygian Dominant Scale on piano — A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G, A
The A Phrygian Dominant Scale shown on a piano keyboard: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G, A.

The A Phrygian Dominant scale contains seven notes: A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F, and G. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern H-A2-H-W-H-W-W.

A Phrygian Dominant Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1TonicAP1
2SupertonicB♭m2
3MediantC♯M3
4SubdominantDP4
5DominantEP5
6SubmediantFm6
7Leading ToneGm7
8OctaveA—

Key Signature

The A Phrygian Dominant Scale doesn’t line up with a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed.

Accidentals

B♭C♯

Diatonic Chords in the A Phrygian Dominant Scale

These are the triads built on each degree of the A Phrygian Dominant Scale:

C1C2C3C4AC5EC6C7C8C#
I — A Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IA MajorMajor
2IIB♭ MajorMajor
3iii°C♯ DiminishedDiminished
4ivD MinorMinor
5v°E DiminishedDiminished
6VI+F AugmentedAugmented
7viiG MinorMinor

A Phrygian Dominant Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the notes of the A Phrygian Dominant Scale on piano?
The A Phrygian Dominant Scale uses the notes A – B♭ – C♯ – D – E – F – G – A. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the A Phrygian Dominant Scale?
The A Phrygian Dominant Scale contains seven notes: A – Bb – C# – D – E – F – G. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does A Phrygian Dominant have?
The A Phrygian Dominant Scale doesn't correspond to a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed: B♭, C♯.
What does the A Phrygian Dominant Scale sound like?
The A Phrygian Dominant Scale has a dark Spanish/flamenco character driven by the lowered second degree. As a mode, it shares notes with a parent major scale but feels different because a different note acts as the tonal center.

Related Tools

Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

How this scale page is sourced & verified

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this page are drawn from the established body of Western music theory and verified against the conventions below — the same fundamentals taught in conservatories and music programs. We list categories of source material rather than individual titles, and reference the standards themselves rather than any single edition.

  • Standard music theory texts — Widely taught fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, and notation.
  • Western tonal harmony conventions — Established rules for chord construction, voice leading, and key relationships.
  • Interval and chord construction standards — The conventional spelling of intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions.
  • Scale and mode theory — The common derivation of major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and modal scales.
  • Piano pedagogy and technique references — Long-standing practices for fingering, hand position, and practice.

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