C Phrygian
A minor diatonic mode with a minor 2nd above the tonic; a compact, tense sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C Phrygian
- Family
- Diatonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- H – W – W – W – H – W – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-2-2-2-1-2-2
Notes & degrees
1Croot
b2Dbminor 2nd
b3Ebminor 3rd
4Fperfect 4th
5Gperfect 5th
b6Abminor 6th
b7Bbminor 7th
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
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 scale 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.