Skip to content

A phrygian mode

The A phrygian mode is A B♭ C D E F G: seven notes, dark, with a Spanish edge. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.

Make a beat in A minor

Opens the free editor with a trap beat in A minor to play A phrygian over. No account needed to start.

The notes of A phrygian

From A up to A: half, whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. Tap a key to hear it.

A B♭ C D E F G A

ACDEFGAB♭
The notes of A phrygian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1ARoot
♭2B♭Minor second
♭3CMinor third
4DPerfect fourth
5EPerfect fifth
♭6FMinor sixth
♭7GMinor seventh

How A phrygian is built

The F major scale played from its third note, A: the same notes with A as home. Against A minor, the minor scale on the same note, it has B♭ instead of B.

The major scale played from its third note: a minor scale with a lowered second. The half step above the root gives it the tense sound of flamenco and metal. The phrygian mode in every key.

Chords in A phrygian

One chord on each note of the scale, built from its own notes. The numeral says which note it starts on, against the A major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

Play A phrygian over a beat

A beat on the chords of A minor. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.

Hear it as

Questions about A phrygian

What notes are in the A phrygian mode?

A, B♭, C, D, E, F and G. Its formula is 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, counted from the major scale on A, and its steps from A up to A are: half, whole, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.

What key is A phrygian in?

A phrygian uses the notes of F major, starting on its third note, A. The notes are the same; making A home is what gives it its own sound.

How is A phrygian different from A minor?

B♭ instead of B: one note of the A minor scale changes, and that note gives A phrygian its sound: dark, with a Spanish edge.

Build a song in A phrygian

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.