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