The E Phrygian scale has a haunting, exotic quality often heard in Spanish, metal, and progressive guitar styles. As the third mode of the C major scale, it delivers a dark flavor that contrasts with the brightness of its parent key. Below you’ll find free guitar tabs for the E Phrygian scale across all five fretboard positions, along with its formula, notes, and chords that work well with it.
Fretboard Position 1
e|------------------------------------|-------------------------[12]-| B|------------------------------------|-------------12--13--15-------| G|------------------------------------|-----12--14-------------------| D|---------------------------12--[14]-|-15---------------------------| A|---------------12--14--15-----------|------------------------------| E|-[12]--13--15-----------------------|------------------------------|
Fretboard Position 2
e|--------------------------|---------------------3-| B|--------------------------|-------------[5]--6----| G|--------------------------|----4--5--7------------| D|---------------------3--5-|-7---------------------| A|----------3--5--[7]-------|-----------------------| E|-3--5--7------------------|-----------------------|
Fretboard Position 3
e|--------------------------|---------------------5-| B|--------------------------|----------[5]--6--8----| G|--------------------------|----5--7---------------| D|---------------------5--7-|-9---------------------| A|----------5--[7]--8-------|-----------------------| E|-5--7--8------------------|-----------------------|
Fretboard Position 4
e|----------------------------|-----------------------7-| B|----------------------------|-----------------8--10---| G|----------------------------|-----7--[9]--10----------| D|-----------------------7--9-|-10----------------------| A|-----------[7]--8--10-------|-------------------------| E|-7--8--10-------------------|-------------------------|
Fretboard Position 5
e|----------------------------------|---------------------------10-| B|----------------------------------|---------------10--12--13-----| G|----------------------------------|-------10--12-----------------| D|---------------------------10--12-|-[14]-------------------------| A|---------------10--12--14---------|------------------------------| E|-10--[12]--13---------------------|------------------------------|
Scale Formula & Notes
- Formula: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
- Notes (in E Phrygian): E, F, G, A, B, C, D
Related Scales
- Relative Major: C Major Scale Tabs
- Parallel Major: E Major Scale Tabs
Chords You Can Play Over E Phrygian
The E Phrygian scale works well over:
- E minor / Em7
- F major
- G minor / Gm7
- A diminished / Adim7
- B major / Bmaj7
- C minor
- D minor
Explore our complete Guitar Chord Library to connect scales directly to real music.
