‘A Flat phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the F flat major scale. The notes in Ab Phrygian are:
Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb
The phrygian mode has a dark sound, which can be used over minor chords to create interesting and exotic musical ideas.
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 Ab Phrygian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
Ab Phrygian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
A Flat Major has the following notes:
Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G
If we ‘flatten’ the 2nd note (Bb), the 3rd note (C), the 6th note (F) and the 7th note (G) we get the following:
Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb
Ab Phrygian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Ab is the 3rd note of the Fb major scale:
Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb
If we play the Fb major scale and start on the 3rd note we get the following:
Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb
Let’s look at the Ab phrygian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Ab Phrygian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
Ab Phrygian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at Ab phrygian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
Ab Phrygian in the 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)
Ab Phrygian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)
Ab Phrygian in the 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
Ab Phrygian in the 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)
Ab Phrygian in the 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Ab phrygian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the phrygian mode, check out phrygian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Abm7 chord (Ab phrygian works well over the Abm7 chord).
- Fb Major scale contains the mode of Ab phrygian.
