C
Notes: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
Phrygian Mode
The Phrygian Scale (or mode) is the third of the modal scales. The Phrygian scales are related to the Major scales: E Phrygian corresponds to C Major played from the E note, A Phrygian corresponds to F Major played from the A note and so on (all relations are listed below). This scale is often used in Spanish, Latin and flamenco music. See also Phrygian Dominant.
The Phrygian Mode is almost identical to the Aeolian Mode. It is easy to see if you, for example, compare A Phrygian (A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G) with A Aeolian (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). The b2 (flattened second) degree is the most characteristic note of the Phrygian and should consequently be targeted to bring out the "Phrygian" sound.
C# / Db
Notes: C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#
D
Notes: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
D# /Eb
Notes: D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#
E
Notes: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
F
Notes: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F# / Gb
Notes: F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#
G
Notes: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
G# / Ab
Notes: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#
A
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A
A# / Bb
Notes: Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B
Notes: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B
Phrygian Scales overview
C: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C# / Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D# / Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb
E: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
F: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E, F# / Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G# / Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, C#, D#, E# (F), F#, G#, A# / Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B
Intervals: 1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Semi-notes: 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2
Formula: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Phrygian scales with note letters (sheet music PDF)
The Phrygian scales in musical notes are available in the member area.
The scale in all keys (without note names) can be downloaded as a PDF-file.
Relative keys – Phrygian and Major
The same notes can be found in different Major and Phrygian scales:
- C Phrygian – Ab Major
- C# Phrygian – A Major
- D Phrygian – Bb Major
- D# Phrygian – B Major
- E Phrygian – C Major
- F Phrygian – C# Major
- F# Phrygian – D Major
- G Phrygian – D# Major
- G# Phrygian – E Major
- A Phrygian – F Major
- A# Phrygian – F# Major
- B Phrygian – G Major
If you know the Major scales, you can play the relative Phrygian by walk three semi-steps up on the keyboard. One example: C, D, E, F, G, A, B ⟶ E, F, G, A, B, C, D.
The ancient heritage
The Phrygian Scale emerged in the ancient Greece together with other scales such as Locrian and Mixolydian. The names were taken from regions or people, the former is true about Phrygian. In the classical age, Phrygian melodies was considered merry and amiable.
Phrygian b4
A relevant scale is the Phrygian b4 (flat four). It is an alternate scale which has the intervals 1, b2, b3, b4, 5, b6, b7. An example is C Phrygian b4: C, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bb, C.