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