C 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
- C Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Notes & degrees
1Croot
b2Dbminor 2nd
b3Ebminor 3rd
4Fperfect 4th
5Gperfect 5th
b6Abminor 6th
b7Bbminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIDblowered 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
- CHDbWEbWFWGHAbWBb
- Reference mode
- C Aeolian
C Aeolian
IC
IID
IIIEb
IVF
VG
VIAb
VIIBb
C Phrygian
IC
IIDb
IIIEb
IVF
VG
VIAb
VIIBb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 3 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Ab majorPhrygian mode — degree 3 of the scale
- Parallel major
- C majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ICpoint of resttonic
IIIEbdefines modal qualitythird
VGsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIEbEb
IVFF
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ICC
IIDbDb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how C 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.