Guitar Scale Logic
A# Phrygian Guitar Scale in Drop D
Phrygian scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop D.
Scale Tablature
Position 1
E|---------------------------------1--2--4--| B|---------------------------2--4-----------| G|------------------1--3--4-----------------| D|---------1--3--4--------------------------| A|1--2--4-----------------------------------| D|------------------------------------------|
0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 14 notes
Theory & Context
Why This Shape Works
The A# Phrygian scale uses A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯ and the formula 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. In Drop D tuning, the open strings run E B G D A D from highest to lowest, so use this map rather than a Standard-tuning shape. Use the map to locate each A# root, then select a five-fret position to see its tablature. The chord suggestions use notes from this scale.
Phrygian sounds dark, compressed and exotic. Try it for metal riffs, Spanish-flavoured motifs and tense pedal point ideas. Drop D lowers the sixth string from E to D. The other five strings stay in Standard tuning, so only the low-string notes move.
Hit the b2 against the root to make the Phrygian tension obvious. In Drop D, check the sixth-string frets before reusing a Standard-tuning pattern.
- A♯
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E♯
- F♯
- G♯
Suggested Chords
Works Well With This Scale
These chords contain notes from the selected scale.
- A♯mminor
- A♯5power
- A♯sus4sus4
- A♯m7minor 7
- B5power
- Bmajor
- C♯5power
- C♯sus4sus4
- C♯major
- D♯mminor