Skip to content

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♯

DEABC♯F♯G♯C♯
The notes of C♯ phrygian mode by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1C♯Root
♭2DMinor second
♭3EMinor third
4F♯Perfect fourth
5G♯Perfect fifth
♭6AMinor sixth
♭7BMinor 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.

iC♯m♭IID♭IIIEivF♯mv°G♯dim♭VIA♭viiBm

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♯

D♭ major (major scale)C♯ minor (natural minor scale)D♭ major pentatonicC♯ minor pentatonicC♯ bluesC♯ harmonic minorC♯ melodic minorC♯ dorianC♯ phrygianD♭ lydianD♭ 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

Keep going