C 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 C, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | H W W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | CmD♭E♭FmG°A♭B♭m |
Chords in the C Phrygian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C Phrygian on the piano
Improvisation drone · C
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C Phrygian uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, A♭ and B♭) and three white.
C · D♭ · E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭
Play C Phrygian on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
C Phrygian on the guitar
C Phrygian - fr 0–12
C Phrygian on the staff
Notes of the C Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D♭ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | E♭ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | F | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | B♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C 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 C, C Phrygian has D♭ where C Natural Minor has D; every other note is shared with C Natural Minor (C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭).
Modes from C Phrygian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the C Phrygian scale
The diatonic chords of C Phrygian are: i = Cm, II = D♭, III = E♭, iv = Fm, v° = G°, VI = A♭, vii = B♭m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C 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 C 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 C Phrygian
Start with the music described above: listen for C 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 C Phrygian scale?
The C Phrygian scale contains C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭.
What is the formula for the C Phrygian scale?
C Phrygian follows a minor scale with a flat second degree (H-W-W-W-H-W-W).
Is C Phrygian a major or minor scale?
C Phrygian is a phrygian scale. Dark minor mode with a flat second - Spanish, flamenco and metal flavour.
What chords belong to the C Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords of C Phrygian are Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, G°, A♭, B♭m.
Which genres use C 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 C Phrygian scale on the piano?
On the piano C Phrygian uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, A♭ and B♭) and three white.
What is the difference between C Phrygian and C Natural Minor?
On C, C Phrygian has D♭ where C Natural Minor has D; every other note is shared with C Natural Minor (C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭).
How do I practise the C 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.