Question #17

I am having trouble constructing modes from the scale formulas. I know that the formula for a Phrygian mode is 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, but I can't seem to apply that to the neck of the guitar. How do I construct an A Phrygian, or a B Phrygian?

Answer

A scale formula shows how the notes of a particular scale relate to the major scale with the same root. The formula for a major scale is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. So it is the constant that you compare all other scales.

Here is a basic major scale fingering with the formula numbers indicated. You can play this anywhere on the neck of the guitar. If you wanted to make this an A major scale, you would play this so that the first note (1) would be at the 5th fret, which is an A note.

|--7--|--1--|-----|--2--|-----| -1st string
|-----|--5--|-----|--6--|-----|
|--2--|-----|--3--|--4--|-----|
|--6--|-----|--7--|--1--|-----|
|--3--|--4--|-----|--5--|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--2--|-----| -6th string

When you see something like b2, that is telling you that the note is a half step lower than the 2nd note in the major scale with the same root. A half step is equal to one fret on the guitar. The formula for a Phrygian mode is 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

Below is the major scale formula numbers, and the b2, b3, b6 and b7

|-b7--|--7--|--1--|-b2--|--2--| -1st string
|-----|-----|--5--|-b6--|--6--|
|-b2--|--2--|-b3--|--3--|--4--|
|-b6--|--6--|-b7--|--7--|--1--|
|-b3--|--3--|--4--|-----|--5--|
|-----|-----|--1--|-b2--|--2--| -6th string

So here is the Phrygian mode that you have constructed using the formula. It is technically correct, but not a very comfortable scale to play.

|-b7--|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----| -1st string
|-----|-----|--5--|-b6--|-----|
|-b2--|-----|-b3--|-----|--4--|
|-b6--|-----|-b7--|-----|--1--|
|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|--5--|
|-----|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----| -6th string

When applying the formula to the neck of the guitar, it does not always mean to move down one fret. Some times you might play the same note on the next string lower, only because in the end it will create a more comfortable scale fingering.

So move the b3 on the 5th string to the 6th string, the b6 on the 4th string to the 5th string, the b2 on the 3rd string to the 4th string, and the b7 on the 1st string to the 2nd string. You then get the scale form listed below.

|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----|-----| -1st string
|-----|--5--|-b6--|-----|-b7--|
|-----|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|-b7--|-----|--1--|-b2--|
|-----|--4--|-----|--5--|-b6--|
|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----|-b3--| -6th string

I can also add a b3 on the first string in this position. So this is now a basic Phrygian scale form. Again you can just move this form anywhere on the neck of the guitar. If you want A Phrygian, play it at the 5th fret so that the 1 on the 6th string is an A note. If you want B Phrygian, then play this at the 7th fret so that B is the 1 on the 6th string.

|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----|-b3--| -1st string
|-----|--5--|-b6--|-----|-b7--|
|-----|-b3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|-----|-b7--|-----|--1--|-b2--|
|-----|--4--|-----|--5--|-b6--|
|-----|--1--|-b2--|-----|-b3--| -6th string

Here are the note names of an A major scale, and then altered to make it an A Phrygian.

A major = A(1) B(2) C#(3) D(4) E(5) F#(6) G#(7) A(1)
A Phrygian - A(1) Bb(b2) C(b3) D(4) E(5) F(b6) G(b7) A(1)

Here are the note names of a B major scale, and then altered to make it a B Phrygian.

B major - B(1) C#(2) D#(3) E(4) F#(5) G#(6) A#(7) B(1)
B Phrygian - B(1) C(b2) D(b3) E(4) F#(5) G(b6) A(7) B(1)

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