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SCALE · ON ALTO SAXOPHONE

D Phrygian Dominant

Phrygian with a raised 3rd — Spanish, klezmer, flamenco, metal. 5th mode of harmonic minor.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 3 title D Phrygian Dominant
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 4 5 title D Phrygian Dominant
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a major 6th below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
D8ve8vefFfFDDE♭E♭FFbisbisG♯G♯C♯C♯BBB♭B♭EECCB♭B♭F♯F♯E♭E♭CC
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Phrygian Dominant scale?

The D Phrygian Dominant scale uses the notes D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭, C (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Phrygian Dominant scale formula?

The Phrygian Dominant scale follows the interval pattern H W+H H W H W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D to get the D Phrygian Dominant scale.

What chords work over D Phrygian Dominant?

Phrygian dominant works over V7♭9♭13 of the parent harmonic minor. Spanish flamenco, klezmer, metal vocabulary.

How do I finger D Phrygian Dominant on Alto Saxophone?

On saxophone, scales train fingering + the altissimo register. Practice the entire range — low Bb through high F (or higher with altissimo fingerings) — at each scale.

When would I use the Phrygian Dominant scale?

Phrygian with a raised 3rd — Spanish, klezmer, flamenco, metal. 5th mode of harmonic minor.