About the B Phrygian scale
B 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 B Natural Minor with the second lowered.
Its notes are B, C, D, E, F♯, G, and A. The formula is H W W W H W W. It is the third mode of G Major.
Also called Inverted Major and Bhairavi.
One of the notes in B Phrygian is a black key, F♯. This scale runs four white keys in a row on the piano.
Chords in the key of B Phrygian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i B minor
B minor over D (1st inversion)
II C
C over E (1st inversion)
III D
D over F sharp (1st inversion)
iv E minor
E minor over G (1st inversion)
v° F sharp diminished
F sharp diminished over A (1st inversion)
VI G
G over B (1st inversion)
vii A minor
A minor over C (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B Phrygian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i B minor seven
B minor seven
II C major seven
C major seven
III D seven
D seven
iv E minor seven
E minor seven
v° F sharp minor seven flat five
F sharp minor seven flat five
VI G major seven
G major seven
vii A minor seven
A minor seven
Progressions in B Phrygian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BB | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CC | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EE | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F#F♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | GG | Minor 6th |
| 7 | AA | 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 | B | C | D | E | F sharp | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.