What scale is this?

[Robert1950]

I'm making a guess here, but would this scale be an E minor diminished 2nd?

E F G A B C D E

[GuitaristZ]

Well...normal E minor is E F# G A B C D E because it is the relative minor of G major which has 1 sharp, F#.

Therefore, if the F is natural, it must be diminished 2nd.

[NB_Terry]

E Phrygian

[Mooh]

Yup, E phrygian. Mooh.

[Robert1950]

Thanks - found this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_mode

They refer to the 2nd as a flat 2nd. This scale would be the modern Phrygian.

[Robert1950]

Or if you want to O.D. on this stuff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode

[GuitaristZ]

wait...I thought the phrygian mode was b2, b3, b6, and b7?

that would be: E F Gb A B Cb Db E

[Mr. David Severson]

wait...I thought the phrygian mode was b2, b3, b6, and b7?

that would be: E F Gb A B Cb Db E

Yes you would be correct for the most part..you would use that formula to alter from the major scale of E. It contains E F# G# A B C# D# thus the alteration would give you that of a C scale.:food-smiley-004:

[GuitaristZ]

i am now officially confused

[kat_]

Read over Mr David's explanation again. It's good.
If you start with E major - E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E and the flatten the 2 (F#-> F), flatten the 3 (G#-> G), flatten the 6 and 7 (C# -> C and D#-> D) so you get E F G A B C D E.

Where you got confused before was you started from the minor instead of the major. If you want to start from the natural minor then just flatten the 2.

[GuitaristZ]

aah! now i understand lol...thanks!