Chord Colors

B Phrygian scale

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.

Learn more about the B Phrygian scale

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
Position 2 of 3

B minor over D (1st inversion)

II C
Position 2 of 3

C over E (1st inversion)

III D
Position 2 of 3

D over F sharp (1st inversion)

iv E minor
Position 2 of 3

E minor over G (1st inversion)

F sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

F sharp diminished over A (1st inversion)

VI G
Position 2 of 3

G over B (1st inversion)

vii A minor
Position 2 of 3

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

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.

Common
Common

Notes and intervals

1BBRoot
2CCMinor 2nd
3DDMinor 3rd
4EEPerfect 4th
5F#F♯Perfect 5th
6GGMinor 6th
7AAMinor 7th
StepsH W W W H W W
Semitones1-2-2-2-1-2-2
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand BCDEF sharpGAB
Right hand12312345
Left hand43214321

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Phrygian in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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B Phrygian scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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