Phrygian dominant scale in E on cavaquinho
Phrygian dominant scale in E: E, F, G#, A, B, C and D, the degrees 1–b2–3–4–5–b6–b7. The box shown is in open position, from the open strings up to fret 4; the lowest tonic sits on the 4th string, fret 2, and the hand stays put in the region, with no position shift.
On the cavaquinho, four steel strings pack the scale into a short, bright space — there is nowhere for a note to hide. Its four steel strings give a bright, sharp attack that cuts through the mix and drives the beat.
Practice it tonic to tonic: hearing degree 1 at both ends anchors the scale's sound.
Text description
Open strings and frets 1 to 4, 4 strings. Root (E): string 4, fret 2 and string 1, fret 2.
- String 4 (D): open, D, flat seventh; fret 2, E, root, finger 2; fret 3, F, flat second, finger 3
- String 3 (G): fret 1, G sharp, third, finger 1; fret 2, A, fourth, finger 2; fret 4, B, fifth, finger 4
- String 2 (B): open, B, fifth; fret 1, C, flat sixth, finger 1; fret 3, D, flat seventh, finger 3
- String 1 (D): open, D, flat seventh; fret 2, E, root, finger 2; fret 3, F, flat second, finger 3
In the diagram, each dot carries its scale degree; 1 is the tonic, highlighted.