D PHRYGIAN MODE

‘D Phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the B flat major scale. The notes in D Phrygian are:

D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb – C

If you have read the post on understanding the phrygian mode, you will know that the phrygian mode contains a ‘flat 2′, a ‘flat 3′, a ‘flat 6′ and a ‘flat 7′ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 3rd mode of a major scale (derivative approach). Let’s briefly look at how to construct D Phrygian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

D Major has the following notes:

D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#

If we ‘flatten’ the 2nd note (E), the 3rd note (F#), the 6th note (B) and the 7th note (C#) we get the following:

D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb – C

Derivative Approach:

A is the 3rd note of the B flat major scale:

Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A

If we play the Bb major scale and start on the 3rd note we get the following:

D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb – C

Let’s look at the D phrygian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Positions Along the Fretboard:

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

Now let’s look at D phrygian in the 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

Now let’s look at D phrygian in the 5th position (lowest fret is 5)

Now let’s look at D phrygian in the 6th position (lowest fret is 6)

Now let’s look at D phrygian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

Finally, let’s look at D phrygian in the 11th position (lowest fret is 11)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of D phrygian along the guitar fretboard.

For an in depth explanation of the phrygian mode, check out phrygian mode explained.