Phrygian

A minor mode with a flat 2nd — dark and exotic

Phrygian is a minor major mode with a flat 2nd — the darkest of the three. The flat 2nd, just one semitone above the root, creates a distinctive, exotic tension. Intense and dramatic.

Built on the 3rd degree of the major scale. Its minor pentatonic subset is shared with dorian and aeolian; the ♭2 and ♭6 give Phrygian its unmistakable character.

Common in flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music, and film scores (tension and menace).

3579121517192145♭6♭7C♭2♭345♭6♭7C♭2♭7C♭2♭345♭6♭7C♭2♭34♭345♭6♭7C♭2♭345♭6♭75♭6♭7C♭2♭345♭6♭7C♭2♭3C♭2♭345♭6♭7C♭2♭345♭645♭6♭7C♭2♭345♭6♭7C♭2
The instrumentTap a note to hear it.
C phrygian
CC♭2D♭D♭ lydianD♭3E♭E♭ mixolydianE4FF aeolianF♯5GG locrian♭6A♭A♭ ionianA♭7B♭B♭ dorianB
C0D♭1E♭3F5G7A♭8B♭10
Circle of fifthsInside, the twelve notes by semitone — the wheel every set on this site is drawn on. Outside, the same twelve by fifths. 7 fifths from D♭ — D♭ A♭ E♭ B♭ F C G. From C, phrygian: C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭.

On your instrument, in your key

OnguitarbassukulelemandolinpianoInCD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

Related

Contained byMinor Major ModesMajor ModesContainsMinor PentatonicMinor TriadRoot & 5thParallel toLydianRelatedDorianAeolian (Natural Minor)Referenced byMinor 2ndMinor 6thLocrian

Practiced in

Phrygian AnchoredPhrygian Full RangePhrygian Melodies (Range Shifting)Phrygian Melodies (Timed)Phrygian Melodies (Untimed)Phrygian Anchored (Roving)Phrygian Full Range (Roving)Phrygian Melodies (Range Shifting)Phrygian Melodies (Root Shuffling)