A♭ Phrygian at a glance
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | A♭mB𝄫C♭D♭mE♭°F♭G♭m |
Chords in the A♭ Phrygian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Phrygian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Phrygian uses four black keys (A♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and three white. B𝄫, C♭ and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B and E.
A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F♭ · G♭
Play A♭ Phrygian on the online piano
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A♭ Phrygian on the guitar
A♭ Phrygian - fr 0–12
A♭ Phrygian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | C♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Phrygian different
Phrygian is a minor mode whose second degree sits only a half step above the tonic, and that flat second is all that separates it from natural minor. The half step from ♭2 down to 1 gives the mode its Spanish and metal colour, and the major chord on ♭II, a half step above the tonic, is its signature cadence. It's the third mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a major third below its root. Its v chord is diminished, so it can't cadence the way a minor key usually does. On A♭, A♭ Phrygian has B𝄫 where A♭ Natural Minor has B♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Natural Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
Modes from A♭ Phrygian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the A♭ Phrygian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Phrygian are: i = A♭m, II = B𝄫, III = C♭, iv = D♭m, v° = E♭°, VI = F♭, vii = G♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Phrygian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic.
Practice tips
Lean on the flat second to immediately establish the phrygian sound. Great drill: alternate the root and flat second back and forth as a pedal.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Phrygian scale follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W). Step pattern: H - W - W - W - H - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Phrygian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Phrygian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Phrygian scale?
The A♭ Phrygian scale contains A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭ and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Phrygian scale?
A♭ Phrygian follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W).
Is A♭ Phrygian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Phrygian is a phrygian scale. Dark minor mode with a flat second - Spanish, flamenco and metal flavour.
What chords belong to the A♭ Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Phrygian are A♭m, B𝄫, C♭, D♭m, E♭°, F♭, G♭m.
Which genres use A♭ Phrygian?
Phrygian is the dark, exotic side of minor - think flamenco, metal, hip-hop and middle-eastern music. The flat second creates instant tension over the tonic.
How do you play the A♭ Phrygian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Phrygian uses four black keys (A♭, D♭, E♭ and G♭) and three white. B𝄫, C♭ and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B and E.
What is the difference between A♭ Phrygian and A♭ Natural Minor?
On A♭, A♭ Phrygian has B𝄫 where A♭ Natural Minor has B♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Natural Minor (A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Phrygian scale?
Lean on the flat second to immediately establish the phrygian sound. Great drill: alternate the root and flat second back and forth as a pedal.