• Who Else Is Interested In Learning About The Spanish Phrygian Scale?

    in Piano,Scales,Theory

    In this lesson, we’ll be learning about the Spanish phrygian scale.

    The Spanish phrygian scale is mostly used by advanced gospel and jazz players while improvising over certain chord types and we’ll also be focusing on these chord types in this lesson.

    Attention: If you don’t know much about this scale type, or you’re just coming across it for the first time, then you arrived at the right page because this lesson will get you started by giving you a detailed explanation on the Spanish phrygian scale.

    The Spanish Phrygian Scale – Explained

    The Spanish phrygian scale is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale.

    This means that the Spanish phrygian scale can be formed by starting and ending the harmonic minor scale on its fifth tone. For example, starting and ending the D harmonic minor scale:

    …on its fifth tone (which is A):

    …produces the A Spanish phrygian scale:

    “Alternatively…”

    The Spanish phrygian scale can be formed by raising the third tone of the phrygian scale by a half-step. For example, the E phrygian scale:

    …can be used to derive the E Spanish phrygian scale by raising the third tone of the E phrygian scale:

    …which is G:

    …by a half-step (to G#):

    …to produce the E Spanish phrygian scale:

    “Pay Attention To This…”

    The difference between the phrygian scale and the Spanish phrygian scale is that the third tone of the latter is raised by a half-step.

    Although the phrygian scale is a minor scale, the Spanish phrygian scale is a major scale. A scale is considered as a major or minor scale depending on the interval between its first and third tone.

    The interval between the first and third tones of the E phrygian scale:

    …which are E and G:

    …is a minor third interval, consequently, the phrygian scale is a minor scale.

    In the case of the E Spanish phrygian scale:

    …the interval between the first and third tones which are E and G#:

    …is a major third interval, consequently, the Spanish phrygian scale is a major scale.

    Formation Of The Spanish Phrygian Scale

    There are so many ways to for the Spanish phrygian scale and it’s practically impossible for us to cover all the approaches to scale formation.

    We’ll focus on the formation of the Spanish phrygian scale using the phrygian scale.

    “Check It Out…”

    The C phrygian scale:

    …can be used in the formation of the C Spanish phrygian scale by raising the third tone (which is Eb):

    …by a half-step (to E):

    This produces the C Spanish phrygian scale:

    The C# phrygian scale:

    …can be used in the formation of the C Spanish phrygian scale by raising the third tone (which is E):

    …by a half-step (to E#):

    This produces the C# Spanish phrygian scale:

    The D phrygian scale:

    …can be used in the formation of the D Spanish phrygian scale by raising the third tone (which is F):

    …by a half-step (to F#):

    This produces the D Spanish phrygian scale:

    The D# phrygian scale:

    …can be used in the formation of the D# Spanish phrygian scale by raising the third tone (which is F#):

    …by a half-step (to G):

    This produces the D# Spanish phrygian scale:

    Following the same procedures, the Spanish phrygian scale can be formed starting on any note on the piano.

    Final Words

    Now that we’ve covered the Spanish phrygian scale we’ll proceed (in the next lesson) into learning the chord types that can be formed using the Spanish phrygian scale and how creative melodic lines can be derived from the Spanish phrygian scale while improvising.

    Thank you for your time and see you in the next lesson!

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    Chuku Onyemachi

    Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group
    Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

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    Tagged as: phrygian scale, spanish phrygian scale


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