The Phrygian dominant scale is also called the Spanish Phrygian scale, the Spanish-Arabic scale (in Spanish, escala hispano-árabe or andaluza), the flamenco scale or the Freygish scale (in klezmer music). It gives flamenco its typical color, and it is also heard in much of the music of southern Spain and North Africa. In modern theory it is the Phrygian dominant mode (also called Phrygian major).
What is the Phrygian dominant scale?
It is a seven-note scale. It is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale: it uses the same notes as a harmonic minor scale, but starts on the fifth degree. Its main feature is a major 3rd over a Phrygian base (which has a minor 2nd). This creates an augmented 2nd between the 2nd and 3rd degrees. That interval gives the scale its Eastern and flamenco flavor.
Structure and intervals
The pattern of whole steps (UK: tones) and half steps (UK: semitones) is:
Half step · augmented 2nd · half step · whole step · half step · whole step · whole step
By degrees: 1 · ♭2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. On E, the most common tonic on the flamenco guitar: E · F · G♯ · A · B · C · D. (The Spanish-speaking world uses the fixed-do names Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si for C D E F G A B, so you may see the same scale written as Mi Fa Sol♯ La Si Do Re.)
The flamenco sound
This scale is the basis of the Andalusian cadence (A minor–G–F–E), in which the E major chord is the point of rest. The major 3rd (G♯) above the tonic E and the minor 2nd (F) create the unmistakable tension of flamenco, fado and many melodies of Arab and Sephardic origin.
The Phrygian dominant scale in all keys
The scale written from each of the 15 keys, with its correct spelling and its staff:
| Key | 1 | ♭2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | D♭ | E | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
| G | G | A♭ | B | C | D | E♭ | F |
| D | D | E♭ | F♯ | G | A | B♭ | C |
| A | A | B♭ | C♯ | D | E | F | G |
| E | E | F | G♯ | A | B | C | D |
| B | B | C | D♯ | E | F♯ | G | A |
| F♯ | F♯ | G | A♯ | B | C♯ | D | E |
| C♯ | C♯ | D | E♯ | F♯ | G♯ | A | B |
| F | F | G♭ | A | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ |
| B♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D | E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ |
| E♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ |
| A♭ | A♭ | B double flat | C | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G♭ |
| D♭ | D♭ | E double flat | F | G♭ | A♭ | B double flat | C♭ |
| G♭ | G♭ | A double flat | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E double flat | F♭ |
| C♭ | C♭ | D double flat | E♭ | F♭ | G♭ | A double flat | B double flat |
Staff in each key
A note on the name
The names of these "oriental" scales vary from source to source. On this page, "Spanish-Arabic" means the Andalusian or flamenco scale: the Phrygian dominant, with a single augmented 2nd and a minor 7th. This is the one that gives flamenco its color.
Do not confuse it with the double harmonic major scale (C · D♭ · E · F · G · A♭ · B), which has a major 7th and two augmented 2nds. Some Spanish-language music-theory sources also call that scale "hispano-árabe", but it is a different scale. You can see it, with other scales of Eastern sound, on the page about the Hungarian and oriental scales.