Phyrgian Minor ... The Flamenco Mode

This is the mode that I have spent most of my guitar life in. It is built on the 3rd degree of the scale and is one of only two modes that starts out with a half step, Locrian (half-diminished) being the other. It then goes whole step but the total of one half (one fret) and one whole (two frets) comes out to three frets making this interval a minor 3rd. Therefore this mode is known as Phyrgian Minor.

A Major Scale

A whole B whole C# half D whole E whole F# whole G# half A

The A major scale. Now let's build a scale from the 3rd degree of the A major scale.

Construction of the Phyrgian Minor mode

C# half D whole E whole F# whole G# half A whole B whole C#

Notice that this is the first mode we have encountered that has only one fret in its first interval.

Fingering of this mode

Note the fingering for the Phyrgian Minor Mode root 6/4.

Next let's take a look at the Phyrgian Minor mode root 5/3.

The fingering for this mode

Now for some real fun

Joachin Rodrigo once wrote a piece called "Concierto de Aranjuez." This has been recorded many time by many artists. For the guitar performances, only one really stands out -that of Paco de Lucia's. Paco was the only one to interpret the intended rhythm of the piece correctly. No surprise since Flamenco is very rhythm intense. The other (non-guitar) masterpiece rendering of this piece is a no-brainer ... Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain." Take a listen to either of these and then try some improvisation in the phyrgian minor mode.

Record some quiet strumming of an A minor chord at the 5th fret or, just play over any version of the Concierto de Aranjuez you can find.

Start at the 5th fret on the sixth string. This is a great piece to improvise and is a lot of fun to play. For a change use the root 5/3 mode after your fingers have learned the root 6/4 mode.

To hear some really great improvisation in the phyrgian mode

John McLaughlin recorded a piece called "Maya" on one of the Shakti albums "Remember Shakti." This is one of the greatest pieces of improvisational guitar I have ever heard. If you like the phyrgian mode, this will be well worth the effort to find it.

Thanks for your attention and happy guitar playing.
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