Db 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
- Db Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Notes & degrees
1Dbroot
b2Dminor 2nd
b3Fbminor 3rd
4Gbperfect 4th
5Abperfect 5th
b6Aminor 6th
b7Cbminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIDlowered 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
- DbHDWFbWGbWAbHAWCb
- Reference mode
- Db Aeolian
Db Aeolian
IDb
IIEb
IIIFb
IVGb
VAb
VIA
VIICb
Db Phrygian
IDb
IID
IIIFb
IVGb
VAb
VIA
VIICb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 3 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- A majorPhrygian mode — degree 3 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Db majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDbpoint of resttonic
IIIFbdefines modal qualitythird
VAbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIFbFb
IVGbGb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDbDb
IIDD
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Db 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.