D Phrygian Mode on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory

‘D phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the Bb Major scale. The notes in D phrygian are:

D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb – C

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 D Phrygian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

D Phrygian Mode Using The 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

D Phrygian Mode Using The 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:

D Phrygian in the Open Position

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

D Phrygian Mode Open Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode Open Position Notes

D Phrygian CAGED Positions

Now let’s look at D phrygian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.

D Phrygian in the 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)

D Phrygian Mode 2nd Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode 2nd Position Notes

D Phrygian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)

D Phrygian Mode 5th Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode 5th Position Notes

D Phrygian in the 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)

D Phrygian Mode 6th Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode 6th Position Notes

D Phrygian in the 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)

D Phrygian Mode 10th Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode 10th Position Notes

D Phrygian in the 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)

D Phrygian Mode 11th Position Frets
D Phrygian Mode 11th Position Notes

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.

Further Reading

Get Guitar Chords Galore eBook