What scale is this?

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.

E Phrygian

Yup, E phrygian. Mooh.

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.

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

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

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

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

GuitaristZ said:

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

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

Click to expand...

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:

i am now officially confused

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.

aah! now i understand lol...thanks!