The D Phrygian scale is a moody, exotic-sounding mode that’s widely used in metal, flamenco, and progressive music. As the third mode of the B♭ major scale, it shares the same notes but shifts the tonal focus to D, giving it a darker, more tense quality.
Below you’ll find five tabbed positions for the D Phrygian scale, designed to help you play fluidly across the fretboard while staying in this distinctive mode.
Fretboard Position 1
e|------------------------------------|-------------------------[10]-| B|------------------------------------|-------------10--11--13-------| G|------------------------------------|-----10--12-------------------| D|---------------------------10--[12]-|-13---------------------------| A|---------------10--12--13-----------|------------------------------| E|-[10]--11--13-----------------------|------------------------------|
Fretboard Position 2
e|---------------------------|--------------------1-| B|--------------------------|-------------[3]--4----| G|--------------------------|----2--3--5------------| D|---------------------1--3-|-5---------------------| A|----------1--3--[5]-------|-----------------------| E|-1--3--5------------------|-----------------------|
Fretboard Position 3
e|--------------------------|---------------------3-| B|--------------------------|----------[3]--4--6----| G|--------------------------|----3--5---------------| D|---------------------3--5-|-7---------------------| A|----------3--[5]--6-------|-----------------------| E|-3--5--6------------------|-----------------------|
Fretboard Position 4
e|--------------------------|---------------------5-| B|--------------------------|---------------6--8----| G|--------------------------|----5--[7]--8----------| D|---------------------5--7-|-8---------------------| A|----------[5]--6--8-------|-----------------------| E|-5--6--8------------------|-----------------------|
Fretboard Position 5
e|-------------------------------|-------------------------8-| B|-------------------------------|--------------8--10--11----| G|-------------------------------|-------8--10---------------| D|-------------------------8--10-|-[12]----------------------| A|--------------8--10--12--------|---------------------------| E|-8--[10]--11-------------------|---------------------------|
Scale Formula & Notes
Formula: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
Notes (in D Phrygian): D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C
Related Scales
Relative Major: B Flat (Bb) Major Scale Tabs
Parallel Major: D Major Scale Tabs
Chords You Can Play Over D Phrygian
The D Phrygian scale works well over:
- D minor
- E♭ major
- F minor
- G diminished
- A major
- B♭ minor
- C minor
Explore our complete Guitar Chord Library to connect scales directly to real music.
