A# Phrygian
A minor diatonic mode with a minor 2nd above the tonic; a compact, tense sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the mode relates to the scale, chord, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- A# Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Notes & degrees
1A#root
b2Bminor 2nd
b3C#minor 3rd
4D#perfect 4th
5E#perfect 5th
b6F#minor 6th
b7G#minor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIBlowered 2nd degree
Construction
- Overview
- A minor diatonic mode with a minor 2nd above the tonic; a compact, tense sound.
- Application in music
- The bII – i move emphasises the lowered 2nd; the mode appears in flamenco and riff-based modal music.
- Interval formula
- A#HBWC#WD#WE#HF#WG#
- Reference mode
- A# Aeolian
A# Aeolian
IA#
IIB#
IIIC#
IVD#
VE#
VIF#
VIIG#
A# Phrygian
IA#
IIB
IIIC#
IVD#
VE#
VIF#
VIIG#
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 3 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- F# majorPhrygian mode — degree 3 of the scale
- Parallel major
- A# majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IA#point of resttonic
IIIC#defines modal qualitythird
VE#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIC#C#
IVD#D#
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IA#A#
IIBB
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how A# Phrygian looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.