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