B♯ 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 B♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | B♯mC♯D♯E♯mF𝄪°G♯A♯m |
Chords in the B♯ Phrygian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♯ Phrygian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♯ Phrygian uses four black keys (C♯, D♯, G♯ and A♯) and three white. B♯, E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, F and G.
B♯ · C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A♯
Play B♯ Phrygian on the online piano
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B♯ Phrygian on the guitar
B♯ Phrygian - fr 0–12
B♯ Phrygian on the staff
Notes of the B♯ Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♯ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | D♯ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | E♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F𝄪 | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G♯ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♯ 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 B♯, B♯ Phrygian has C♯ where B♯ Natural Minor has C𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Natural Minor (B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
Modes from B♯ Phrygian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the B♯ Phrygian scale
The diatonic chords of B♯ Phrygian are: i = B♯m, II = C♯, III = D♯, iv = E♯m, v° = F𝄪°, VI = G♯, vii = A♯m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♯ 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 B♯ 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 B♯ Phrygian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♯ 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 B♯ Phrygian scale?
The B♯ Phrygian scale contains B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G♯ and A♯.
What is the formula for the B♯ Phrygian scale?
B♯ Phrygian follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W).
Is B♯ Phrygian a major or minor scale?
B♯ Phrygian is a phrygian scale. Dark minor mode with a flat second - Spanish, flamenco and metal flavour.
What chords belong to the B♯ Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♯ Phrygian are B♯m, C♯, D♯, E♯m, F𝄪°, G♯, A♯m.
Which genres use B♯ 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 B♯ Phrygian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♯ Phrygian uses four black keys (C♯, D♯, G♯ and A♯) and three white. B♯, E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, F and G.
What is the difference between B♯ Phrygian and B♯ Natural Minor?
On B♯, B♯ Phrygian has C♯ where B♯ Natural Minor has C𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Natural Minor (B♯ C𝄪 D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯).
How do I practise the B♯ 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.