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