C Phrygian mode on guitar

The Phrygian mode is a minor scale with a minor second, a half step above the root. Its dark, Spanish color is heard in flamenco and metal.

On the whole neck

EADGBEFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGCD♭E♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭0123456789101112
EADGBEFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGCD♭E♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭0123456789101112

Position from fret 7

EADGBECD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭7891011
EADGBECD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭7891011

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Croot
2D♭ (D flat)minor second
3E♭ (E flat)minor third
4Fperfect fourth
5Gperfect fifth
6A♭ (A flat)minor sixth
7B♭ (B flat)minor seventh

Steps between notes: H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

This mode uses the same notes as the A flat major scale, starting from another degree.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Cmi
  2. D♭II
  3. E♭III
  4. Fmiv
  5. Gdimv°
  6. A♭VI
  7. B♭mvii

Other C scales

The same scale in other keys