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♯mGABmC♯°DEm |
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 two black keys (F♯ and C♯) and five white.
F♯ · G · A · B · C♯ · D · E
Play F♯ Phrygian on the online 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 = Bm, v° = C♯°, VI = D, vii = Em. 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.
Famous songs in F♯ Phrygian
These well-known tracks all use the F♯ Phrygian scale.
- 01White RabbitJefferson Airplane
- 02Pyramid SongRadiohead
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, Bm, C♯°, D, Em.
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 two black keys (F♯ and C♯) and five white.
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.