Guitar scale reference
E Phrygian scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Phrygian is a minor mode distinguished by its flattened 2nd. The half-step above the root produces immediate tension and gives even familiar minor-position geometry a different centre of gravity.
What gives the scale its sound
The root–♭2 relationship is decisive, supported by ♭3 and ♭6. Keep returning to the root so the pattern is heard as Phrygian rather than a major scale beginning elsewhere.
- Interval formula
- 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7
- Notes in E
- E · F · G · A · B · C · D
E Phrygian across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------0--1--3--1--0----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------0--1--3-----------------3--1--0-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------0--2--4-----------------------------------4--2--0----------------------------| D|-------------------0--2--3-----------------------------------------------------3--2--0-------------------| A|----------0--2--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------3--2--0----------| E|-0--1--3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3--1--0-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 1–5
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------1--3--5--3--1----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------1--3--5-----------------5--3--1-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------2--4--5-----------------------------------5--4--2----------------------------| D|-------------------2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------5--3--2-------------------| A|----------2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--2----------| E|-1--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5--3--1-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 3–7
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------3--5--7--5--3----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------3--5--6-----------------6--5--3-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------4--5--7-----------------------------------7--5--4----------------------------| D|-------------------3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------7--5--3-------------------| A|----------3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--3----------| E|-3--5--7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--3-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 6–10
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------7--8-10--8--7----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------6--8-10----------------10--8--6-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------7--9-10----------------------------------10--9--7----------------------------| D|-------------------7--9-10----------------------------------------------------10--9--7-------------------| A|----------7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7----------| E|-7--8-10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 8–12
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------------------8-10-12-10--8----------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------8-10-12----------------12-10--8-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10--9----------------------------| D|-------------------9-10-12----------------------------------------------------12-10--9-------------------| A|----------8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--8----------| E|-8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10--8-|
Practice drill
Alternate 1–♭2–1 with short phrases ending on ♭3 or 5. Move the same idea through each position and connect shapes using the closest root–♭2 pair.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser