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C phrygian mode

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

Make a beat in C minor

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

The notes of C phrygian

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

C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C

CFGCD♭E♭A♭B♭
The notes of C phrygian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1CRoot
♭2D♭Minor second
♭3E♭Minor third
4FPerfect fourth
5GPerfect fifth
♭6A♭Minor sixth
♭7B♭Minor seventh

How C phrygian is built

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

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 C phrygian

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

iCm♭IID♭♭IIIE♭ivFmv°Gdim♭VIA♭♭viiB♭m

Play C phrygian over a beat

A beat on the chords of C 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 C phrygian

What notes are in the C phrygian mode?

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

What key is C phrygian in?

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

How is C phrygian different from C minor?

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

Phrygian mode in every key

C phrygianC♯ phrygianD phrygianD♯ phrygianE phrygianF phrygianF♯ phrygianG phrygianG♯ phrygianA phrygianB♭ phrygianB phrygian

More scales on C

C major (major scale)C minor (natural minor scale)C major pentatonicC minor pentatonicC bluesC harmonic minorC melodic minorC dorianC phrygianC lydianC mixolydianC locrianC phrygian dominant
Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Build a song in C phrygian

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

Make a beat in C minorAll music scales

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