Common
About the A flat Phrygian scale
A flat Phrygian is used for flamenco, metal riffs and film cues that need menace or mystery. Think of it as a dark, exotic minor with a tense half-step right above the root. It is A♭ Natural Minor with the second lowered.
Its notes are A♭, B♭♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The formula is H W W W H W W. It is the third mode of F♭ Major.
Also called Inverted Major and Bhairavi.
The black keys A♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭ belong to A♭ Phrygian.
Chords in the key of A flat Phrygian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B double flat over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat minor over F flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat diminished over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F flat over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G flat minor over B double flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A flat Phrygian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
A flat minor seven
B double flat major seven
C flat seven
D flat minor seven
E flat minor seven flat five
F flat major seven
G flat minor seven
Progressions in A flat Phrygian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Common
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbbB♭♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FbF♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | GbG♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | H W W W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1-2-2-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | A flat | B double flat | C flat | D flat | E flat | F flat | G flat | A flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian in other keys
C Phrygian scaleD flat Phrygian scaleD Phrygian scaleE flat Phrygian scaleE Phrygian scaleF Phrygian scaleG flat Phrygian scaleG Phrygian scaleA Phrygian scaleB flat Phrygian scaleB Phrygian scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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