When you are learning to play the guitar it’s important to learn guitar scales in order to advance your playing. You don’t want to be stuck in the blues box forever, nor do you want to just play it by ear. Understanding music theory deepens your ability to play solos and compose music. When you learn guitar scales, you learn some of the most important aspects of music theory. And, when you learn guitar scales, you want to learn modes, too. One of these modes is the Phrygian Mode.

In simple terms, the Phrygian Mode is played by taking the notes of a key and making the first note and the last note played both the third note in that key’s scale. So, let’s say that you’re playing a song in the key of C. To play a solo using the Phrygian Mode, you would start and end the solo on the E note. This does not have to be th exact same E-note; that is, you can start the solo with a low-E note and end the solo on an E-note two octaves higher, if you prefer.

When you become more advanced in your guitar playing, you can play solos based on the Phrygian Scale’s intervals. Knowing about this gives you a deeper understanding of the notes involved in the Phrygian Mode and lets you get even more creative.

The Phrygian Mode intervals go: Root, flatted 2nd , flatted 3rd ,4th ,5th , flatted 6th , flatted 7th . So to play E Phrygian, you would use: E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E’. Notice that E Phrygian Mode is really in the key of C. So you are really playing the C major scale, but you are emphasizing the individual notes in a different than “straight” way.

The Phrygian Mode is used to give an “Egyptian” or Middle Eastern feel to a solo, lead break, etc. It is a favorite mode of “Neo-classical rock” guitar players and advanced instrumental hard rock guitar players like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

Because of the fact that the intervals used in the Phrygian Mode result in the inclusion of several flatted notes, this mode has an exotic, mystical sound, as if you’re conjuring up a magical underground river than nobody sees but all feel. If you are interested in playing some complex rock guitar based music, this is a mode for you. It is great to use to do an acoustic guitar lead or solo, too.

When you learn guitar scales, you learn how to be a more advanced, more expressive guitar player. Don’t forget to include mastery of modes when you learn guitar scales, and don’t neglect to learn the Phrygian Mode.

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