Beyond the minor pentatonic comfort zone, one scale that can immediately spice up your lead guitar vocabulary is the ominous-sounding Phrygian mode. Derived from the third note of the minor scale, the Phrygian scale has a uniquely darker, flamenco-esque Spanish vibe.
In this lesson, we’ll run through Phrygian scale shapes using 3 notes per string grouping. Keeping fret hand shifts minimal, these compact shapes build position mastery and alternate picking precision. Let’s dive into four Phrygian patterns to get your fingers flying across the fretboard confidently!
Example 1: Expanded 3 Note Groupings
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------9-10-12---------|
A|---------7-9-10------------------|
E|-7-8-10--------------------------|
Continued
e|-------------------12-14-15------|
B|---------12-13-15----------------|
G|9-11-12--------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
e|-15-14-12------------------------|
B|-----------15--13-12-------------|
G|----------------------12-11-9----|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
Continued
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|-12-10-9-------------------------|
A|---------10-9-7------------------|
E|----------------10-8-7-----------|
Example 2: Shifting Chromatic Exercise
For fret hand stamina, this second example runs chromatically up each string, letting you shift your hand position significantly. Use the 15th fret accent tones to anchor your pinky correctly, while not straining extension.
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|--------------------9-10-11-12---|
A|----------7-8-9-10---------------|
E|7-8-9-10-------------------------|
continue..
e|--------------------------12-13-14-15--|
B|-------------12-13-14-15---------------|
G|-9-10-11-12----------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
Example 3: 2 Note Phyrigian
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|-------------------11-12--|
D|------------9-10----------|
A|-----9-10-----------------|
E|-7-8----------------------|
e|---------14--15-----------|
B|--12-13-------------------|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
Play this exercise to get your fingers warmed up with this Phrygian scale.
e|--------14--------15------|
B|-12-13-----12-13----------|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
Repeat 4 times with alternate picking.
Example: 4
The final workout combines stretches between multiple fret positions, demanding accurate shifts without losing pace. Securely lock chromatic steps along the 5th string while handling quick hops flourishing in the higher registers.
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|------------------------|
D|---------------9-10-12--|
A|---------9-10-----------|
E|-7-8-10-----------------|
continued
e|------------------14-15---|
B|--------12-13-15----------|
G|-11-12--------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
Use a metronome and ingrain these Phrygian workouts across at least 3 keys through the cycle of 4ths. Soon you’ll wield this unique mode freely to access exotic soloing colors! Have any preferred Phrygian patterns? Share in the comments below!
