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