Common
About the C Phrygian scale
C 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 C Natural Minor with the second lowered.
Its notes are C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭. The formula is H W W W H W W. It is the third mode of A♭ Major.
Also called Inverted Major and Bhairavi.
Four of the notes in C Phrygian are black keys, D♭, E♭, A♭, and B♭.
Chords in the key of C Phrygian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
C minor over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F minor over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G diminished over B flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A flat over C (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in C Phrygian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
C minor seven
D flat major seven
E flat seven
F minor seven
G minor seven flat five
A flat major seven
B flat minor seven
Progressions in C Phrygian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Common
Notes and intervals
| 1 | CC | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DbD♭ | Minor 2nd |
| 3 | EbE♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | FF | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | GG | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | AbA♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | BbB♭ | 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 | C | D flat | E flat | F | G | A flat | B flat | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Phrygian in other keys
D flat Phrygian scaleD Phrygian scaleE flat Phrygian scaleE Phrygian scaleF Phrygian scaleG flat Phrygian scaleG Phrygian scaleA flat Phrygian scaleA Phrygian scaleB flat Phrygian scaleB Phrygian scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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