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