Phrygian

The Phrygian mode is a musical mode that is derived from the natural minor scale. It has a Spanish or exotic character and is often used in a variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and flamenco.

The Phrygian mode is constructed using the following pattern of whole and half steps: half, whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. This pattern is similar to that of the natural minor scale, with the exception of the second scale degree, which is lowered by a half step.

The Phrygian mode is characterized by its minor tonality, which is created by the combination of the minor third and the perfect fifth intervals. These intervals give the Phrygian mode its dark and serious character and make it a popular choice for introspective and contemplative music.

To use the Phrygian mode in your music, you can start by choosing a natural minor scale and then altering the pattern of whole and half steps to create the Phrygian mode. You can then use this mode as the foundation for your melodies and harmonies, using the minor tonality to create a dark and serious sound.

The Phrygian mode is a popular and widely used mode.

Example Diagram

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
E - F - G - A - B - C - D - E
  H   W   W   W   H   W   W

The "Whole" (W) and "Half" (H) labels represent the intervals between the notes of the scale. A whole step is equal to two half steps, and a half step is equal to one piano key (black or white). They are also known as tones and semitones.

The 1st degree of the scale is the tonic, the 2nd degree is the supertonic, the 3rd degree is the mediant, the 4th degree is the subdominant, the 5th degree is the dominant, the 6th degree is the submediant, and the 7th degree is the leading tone. In the key of E, the Phrygian mode would consist of the notes E, F, G, A, B, C, and D.

To build the Phrygian mode starting from the key of C, you would use the following notes: C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭. The Phrygian mode is a minor scale, and it is characterized by a lowered 2nd degree of the scale compared to the Aeolian mode (also known as the natural minor scale). In the key of C, the Aeolian mode consists of the notes C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭. To create the Phrygian mode from the Aeolian mode, you would simply lower the 2nd degree of the scale by a half step, resulting in the notes C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭.

Phrygian mode in C:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
C - D♭ - E♭ - F - G - A♭ - B♭ - C
  H   W   W   W   H   W   W 

Examples

Here are a few examples of music that uses the Phrygian mode:

• "La Folia" by Antonio Vivaldi: This classical piece is written in the Phrygian mode and has a dark and serious character.
• "All Blues" by Miles Davis: This jazz standard is written in the Phrygian mode and has a bluesy, improvisatory feel.
• "Ole!" by Paco de Lucia: This flamenco piece is written in the Phrygian mode and has a Spanish or exotic character.
• "Sad But True" by Metallica: This heavy metal song is written in the Phrygian mode and has a dark and intense character.
• "The End" by The Doors: This rock classic is written in the Phrygian mode and has a moody and introspective character.

These are just a few examples of the many musical styles and genres that make use of the Phrygian mode. By listening to these and other examples of music that use the Phrygian mode, you can get a sense of the character and mood of this mode and how it is used in a variety of musical contexts.