About the B flat Phrygian scale
B 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 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.
Five of the notes in B♭ Phrygian are black keys, B♭, D♭, E♭, G♭, and A♭.
Chords in the key of B flat Phrygian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i B flat minor
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
II C flat
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
III D flat
D flat over F (1st inversion)
iv E flat minor
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
v° F diminished
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
VI G flat
G flat over B flat (1st inversion)
vii A flat minor
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B flat Phrygian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i B flat minor seven
B flat minor seven
II C flat major seven
C flat major seven
III D flat seven
D flat seven
iv E flat minor seven
E flat minor seven
v° F minor seven flat five
F minor seven flat five
VI G flat major seven
G flat major seven
vii A flat minor seven
A flat minor seven
Progressions in B flat Phrygian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BbB♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CbC♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | DbD♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EbE♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | FF | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | GbG♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | AbA♭ | 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 flat | C flat | D flat | E flat | F | G flat | A flat | B flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.