Gb 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
- Gb Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic modes
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Notes & degrees
1Gbroot
b2Gminor 2nd
b3Aminor 3rd
4Cbperfect 4th
5Dbperfect 5th
b6Dminor 6th
b7Fbminor 7th
Characteristic degrees
IIGlowered 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
- GbHGWAWCbWDbHDWFb
- Reference mode
- Gb Aeolian
Gb Aeolian
IGb
IIAb
IIIA
IVCb
VDb
VID
VIIFb
Gb Phrygian
IGb
IIG
IIIA
IVCb
VDb
VID
VIIFb
How the mode is built
- Position in the system
- Degree 3 of the parent major scale
- Parent scale
- D majorPhrygian mode — degree 3 of the scale
- Parallel major
- Gb majormajor from the same tonic
Sibling modes
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IGbpoint of resttonic
IIIAdefines modal qualitythird
VDbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIAA
IVCbCb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGbGb
IIGG
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This mode on guitar 🎸
See how Gb 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.