D SHARP PHRYGIAN MODE

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

D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B – 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# – Fx – G# – A# – B# – Cx

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

D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B – C#

Derivative Approach:

D# is the 3rd note of the B major scale:

B – C# – D#- E – F# – G# – A#

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

D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B – 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 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

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

Now let’s look at D# phrygian in the 7th position (lowest fret is 7)

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

Finally, let’s look at D# phrygian in the 12th position (lowest fret is 12)

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.