Guitar Scale Logic
D Phrygian Guitar Scale in Drop C
Phrygian scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop C.
Scale Tablature
Position 1
D|---------------------------------------0--| A|---------------------------------1--3-----| F|------------------------0--2--4-----------| C|---------------0--2--3--------------------| G|------0--2--3-----------------------------| C|2--3--------------------------------------|
0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 14 notes
Theory & Context
Why This Shape Works
The D Phrygian scale uses D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C and the formula 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. In Drop C tuning, the open strings run D A F C G C from highest to lowest, so use this map rather than a Standard-tuning shape. Use the map to locate each D 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 C is C-G-C-F-A-D from low to high. Compared with Standard, the top five strings are a whole tone lower and the sixth string is two whole tones lower.
Hit the b2 against the root to make the Phrygian tension obvious. In Drop C, learn the sixth-string notes separately before connecting them to the upper strings.
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A
- B♭
- C
Suggested Chords
Works Well With This Scale
These chords contain notes from the selected scale.
- Dmminor
- D5power
- Dsus4sus4
- Dm7minor 7
- E♭5power
- E♭major
- F5power
- Fsus4sus4
- Fmajor
- Gmminor