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Harmonic Minor Modes - Phrygian-Dominant

Robert Mussatti 91 lessons

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The Phrygian-Dominant scale is defined by the Major 3rd, minor 2nd, minor 6th and minor 7th. The minor 2nd will be heard as a b9 and the b6 as a #5 so any altered dominant chord that has these notes in them will work with this mode..

|-------Octave------||----Extensions----|

1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7-8-b9-10-11-12-b13

Here are the chords we get from stacking 3rds in this mode:

1-3-5= Major Triad

1-3-5-b7= Dominant 7th

1-3-5-b7-b9= Dominant 7b9

1-3-5-b7-b9-11= Dominant 11b9

1-3-5-b7-b9-11-b13= Dominant 13b9

Other possible chords:

1-3-#5= Augmented Triad (#5 enharmonic to b6)

1-3-#5-b7= Augmented 7th

1-3-#5-b7-b9= Dominant 7th(#5b9)

1-4-5= Sus4

1-4-5-b7= Sus7

1-4-5-b7-b9= Sus7b9

One of the best ways I've learned to hear how tension tones resolve is to play the mode over chords that contain no alterations within them. When playing over these vamps, try to listen to where the tension tones within this mode want to resolve to.

Vamp #1:(A-Bb/A) (Use A Phrygian Dominant. All black dots on A)

Vamp #2:(Esus7-E7#5b9) (Use E Phrygian Dominant)

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