Phrygian dominant scale
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The Phrygian dominant scale, also called harmonic minor perfect fifth below (in jazz) or hijaz (in Arabic music), is constructed by raising the third of the Phrygian mode and is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant. It has the word "dominant" in its name because like the dominant seventh chord it has a major 3rd note and a flattened 7th note.
It is often known as a Spanish Phrygian scale or Spanish gypsy scale, and is commonly used in flamenco music. It is also known as Ahava Rabboh or Freygish when used in Hebrew prayers and Klezmer music (earning it the additional title of the Jewish scale), or as the Hijaz maqam when used in Turkish or Arabic music. Often, it has found application in modern progressive rock/metal, having been utilized notably by the band Dream Theater, and by Joe Satriani, who cites the Phrygian dominant as his favorite scale, along with Fred Ardiel, formerly a guitar teacher in the Capilano University Jazz Studies program. The scale is unusual as the interval between the second and third degrees is an augmented second - giving it a "patchy" quality, like its sister, the harmonic minor scale.
The sequence of steps comprising the Phrygian dominant scale is
When related to the scale degrees of the major scale, it reads like so:
1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 1
Beginning on C, the scale is as follows: C - Db - E - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
When the Freygish scale is used in Klezmer music, the 6th degree may not be flattened if it is melodically approached and left from above.[1]
[edit] Examples in popular music
Much of Yngwie Malmsteen's music uses the Phrygian Dominant scale
Kenny Garrett's improvisation on "Sing a Song of Song" is largely based on this harmony.
Rainbow's "Stargazer", (from the album Rainbow Rising) uses the Phrygian dominant scale.
Jimmy Somerville's "So Cold The Night", Pink Floyd's Matilda Mother and Shakira's "Ojos Así/Eyes Like Yours" use the Phrygian dominant scale. Popular guitarist Joe Satriani also teaches a lesson for guitar on the phrygian dominant scale.
Slayer guitarist Kerry King uses the Phyrgian dominant scale for his first solo in the song "Dead Skin Mask"
Metallica's Kirk Hammett has been known to use the Phrygian scale, most notably in the solo for "Wherever I May Roam" and "Eye of the Beholder".
British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" uses both the Phrygian and Phyrgian Dominant scales to emphasize the song's Egyptian theme.
The American technical death metal band Death used this scale for much of the song "Crystal Mountain" off their album Symbolic.
The Dark Ambient band Nox Arcana uses the Phrygian dominant scale for their song "Snake Charmer."
"Hava Nagila" also uses this scale.
"Miserlou" largely consists of going up and down Hijaz Kar, a variant of this scale with the raised 7th (E-F-G#-A-B-C-D#).
"YYZ" by Rush uses the Spanish Phrygian scale in the solo.
"Mother" by The Police uses this scale extensively, including the solo, as well as the guitar solo in "Bombs Away".
The main theme music for the television series Rome is written in Phrygian dominant.
In the ParaWorld computer game, the background music when playing as the Dustrider tribe is in the Phrygian dominant scale.
"The Last Stop," "Dancing Nancies," and"Minarets" by the Dave Matthews Band all use the Phrygian dominant scale.
The melodic death metal band The Black Dahlia Murder uses much of the Phrygian scale in almost all of their songs.
"Kill The Guy with the Ball" by Steve Vai uses this scale.
Technical/brutal death metal band Nile make use of the Phrygian dominant scale in nearly every song, for both solos and riffs, to create a Middle Eastern feel to the music.
The song "Not Everyone" by Nine Black Alps is an example of its use in Alternative Rock as it switches between Phrygian Dominant, Minor and Blues Pentatonic.
Carlos Santana also uses this scale
Metal guitarist James Murphy is noted for using Phrygian Dominant throughout most of his career on multiple songs, most obviously on Testament's "Dog Faced Gods" from the album Low.
Portishead's "The Rip" (from the album "Third") uses a phrygian dominant chord structure.
Opeth uses E Phrygian dominant in their song "Master's Apprentice" and "Bleak".
The Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy uses the Phrygian dominant scale in the main riff of their song Ravenous.
The song "Stand Alone" by the American thrash metal band Iced Earth is entirely in the Phrygian dominant mode.
Mark Tremonti of Creed recorded an instrumental, "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad" for Total Guitar magazine with much of the song and solos written with the Phrygian dominant scale.
The song "Desert Search for Techno allah" by the american avant garde band Mr. Bungle uses phrygian dominant chord structures and melodies
Lacuna Coil's 'Our Truth' is based on B Phrygian Dominant. Especially the vocal lines.
[edit] External links
- * Miguel Bengoa Scale theory and flamenco
- * Miguel Bengoa Flamenco scales tablature
- http://www.budowitz.com/+Main_Klezmer_Modes.html
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