Guitar Scale Logic

Interactive Guitar Scale Finder

Guitar Scale Logic

G# Phrygian Guitar Scale in Drop D

Phrygian scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop D.

Formula 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Tuning E B G D A D
Scale Notes 7 notes

Interactive fretboard

Scale Map

Root notes are highlighted in amber. Use the buttons to isolate each five-fret position.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
E E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
B B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
G
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
D
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
A A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
D
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
G♯
A
B
Root Note Scale Note

Scale Tablature

Position 1

E|---------------0--2--4--|
B|---------2--4-----------|
G|1--2--4-----------------|
D|------------------------|
A|------------------------|
D|------------------------|

0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 8 notes

Theory & Context

Why This Shape Works

The G# Phrygian scale uses G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯ 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 G# root, then select a five-fret position to see its tablature. The chord suggestions use notes from this scale.

Overview

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.

Practice Tip

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.

  • G♯
  • A
  • B
  • C♯
  • D♯
  • E
  • F♯

Suggested Chords

Works Well With This Scale

These chords contain notes from the selected scale.

  • G♯mminor
  • G♯5power
  • G♯sus4sus4
  • G♯m7minor 7
  • A5power
  • Amajor
  • B5power
  • Bsus4sus4
  • Bmajor
  • C♯mminor