Phrygian Mode
Dark, Spanish, exotic, tense
minorFlamencoMetalProgressive RockFusion
Fretboard · A Phrygian
A Phrygian Mode
Dark, Spanish-sounding minor mode with flat 2nd
Root
Chord
Scale
Secondary
Other
13
620
1.0
0.71.5
About Phrygian
The Phrygian mode has a distinctive flat 2nd degree that creates a dark, Spanish, or Middle Eastern flavor. It's the darkest of the minor modes.
Key characteristics
- •Flat 2nd (the defining "Spanish" sound)
- •Minor 3rd
- •Minor 7th
- •Exotic, dark quality
Famous examples
- White Rabbit — Jefferson Airplane
- War — Joe Satriani
- Wherever I May Roam — Metallica
Quick tips
- 1.The b2 to root resolution is iconic - use it!
- 2.Great for building tension in metal riffs
- 3.Creates an immediate Spanish/flamenco flavor
- 4.Use the i - bII movement for authentic Phrygian progressions
Theory
Target notes
Emphasize these for the characteristic sound.
1 (Root)b2 (Flat 2nd - the Phrygian sound!)b3 (Minor 3rd)
Compared to the parent scale
Like natural minor, but with a flat 2nd that creates tension and an exotic flavor.
Works over these chord types
MinorMinor 7th
Practice progressions
Try improvising with Phrygian over these progressions:
i - bII
i - bVII - bVI - bII
All modes
Try it in Improvisio
Enter a progression and practice Phrygian with real-time visualization.
Open the trainer