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The Phrygian dominant scale is constructed by raising the third of the Phrygian scale and is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant. It has the word "dominant" in its name because like the dominant seventh chord it has a major 3rd note and a flattened 7th note.

It is often known as a Spanish Phrygian scale or Spanish gypsy scale, and is commonly used in flamenco music. It is also known as Ahava Rabboh or Freygish when used in Hebrew prayers and Klezmer music (earning it the additional title of the Jewish scale), or as the Hijaz-Nahawand scale when used in Turkish or Arabic music. Often, it has found application in modern progressive rock/metal, having been utilized notably by the band Dream Theater, and by Joe Satriani, who cites the Phrygian dominant as his favorite scale, along with Fred Ardiel, a guitar teacher in the Capilano College Jazz Studies program. The scale is unusual as the interval between the second and third degrees is an augmented second - giving it a "patchy" quality, like its sister, the harmonic minor scale.

The sequence of steps comprising the Phrygian dominant scale is

• half – augmented – half – whole – half – whole – whole

When related to the scale degrees of the major scale, it reads like so:

1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7 - 1

Beginning on C, the scale is as follows:

Franz Liszt prepares the final cadence of his Piano Sonata in B minor with a descending Phrygian Dominant Scale in the depths of the keyboard. The scale is also featured in many of his Hungarian Rhapsodies and other works with Hungarian or Spanish affiliations.

Modest Mussorgsky uses the scale in his piano suite Pictures at an exhibition, in the movement "Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuÿle."

Jimmy Somerville's "So Cold The Night", Pink Floyd's Matilda Mother and Shakira's "Ojos Así/Eyes Like Yours" use the Phrygian dominant scale. Popular guitarist Joe Satriani also teaches a lesson for guitar on the phrygian dominant scale.

Metallica's Kirk Hammett has been known to use the Phrygian scale, most notably in the solo for "Wherever I May Roam".

Hava Nagila also uses this scale.

YYZ by Rush uses the Spanish Phrygian scale in the solo.

The main theme music for the television series Rome is written in Phrygian dominant.

In the ParaWorld computer game, the background music when playing as the Dustrider tribe is in the phrygian dominant scale.

The Last Stop by Dave Matthews Band from Before These Crowded Streets

Also, the popular melodic death metal band The Black Dahlia Murder uses much of the Phrygian scale in almost all of their songs.

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