G 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
- G Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Notes & degrees
1Groot
b2Abminor 2nd
b3Bbminor 3rd
4Cperfect 4th
5Dperfect 5th
b6Ebminor 6th
b7Fminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIAblowered 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
- GHAbWBbWCWDHEbWF
- Reference mode
- G Aeolian
G Aeolian
IG
IIA
IIIBb
IVC
VD
VIEb
VIIF
G Phrygian
IG
IIAb
IIIBb
IVC
VD
VIEb
VIIF
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 3 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- Eb majorPhrygian mode — degree 3 of the scale
- Parallel major
- G majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IGpoint of resttonic
IIIBbdefines modal qualitythird
VDsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIBbBb
IVCC
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGG
IIAbAb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how G 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.