C♭ Phrygian Scale

The C♭ Phrygian scale is the third mode of the A♭♭ major scale, giving it a distinctive dark, exotic, and tense sound commonly used in flamenco, metal, jazz, and cinematic music.

This page covers everything you need to know about the C♭ Phrygian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.

C♭ Phrygian Scale Notes

The C♭ Phrygian mode contains the following notes:

C♭ – D♭♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭♭ – B♭♭

These notes come directly from the A♭♭ major parent scale, starting on its 3rd degree (C♭).

C♭ Phrygian Piano Diagram

This diagram highlights which keys belong to the C♭ Phrygian scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and characteristic tones such as the flat 2 (D♭♭), which gives this scale its signature sound.

C♭ Phrygian Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Phrygian mode is:

Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole

Applied to C♭, this gives us:

C♭ → D♭♭
D♭♭ → E♭♭
E♭♭ → F♭
F♭ → G♭
G♭ → A♭♭
A♭♭ → B♭♭
B♭♭ → C♭

Thus, C♭ Phrygian is built with the following scale degrees:

Root (C♭)
Minor 2nd (D♭♭)
Minor 3rd (E♭♭)
Perfect 4th (F♭)
Perfect 5th (G♭)
Minor 6th (A♭♭)
Minor 7th (B♭♭)

This structure gives the Phrygian mode its characteristic minor quality combined with a distinctive lowered 2nd.

Chords in the Key of C♭ Phrygian

When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the C♭ Phrygian scale, the following diatonic chords emerge:

C♭ minor (i)
D♭♭ major (II)
E♭♭ major (III)
F♭ minor (iv)
G♭ diminished (v°)
A♭♭ major (VI)
B♭♭ minor (vii)

Related Scales and Modes

If you enjoy the sound of C♭ Phrygian, you may also like:

C♭ Phrygian Dominant (Phrygian with a major 3rd)
C♭ Natural Minor (Aeolian)
C♭ Locrian
A♭♭ Major (parent scale)

C♭ Phrygian Scale FAQs

How is C♭ Phrygian different from C♭ natural minor?

C♭ Phrygian has a minor 2nd (D♭♭) while C♭ natural minor has a major 2nd (D♭). These two scales are otherwise identical.

What is the parent scale of C♭ Phrygian?

A♭♭ major. C♭ Phrygian uses the same notes as A♭♭ major, but starts on its third degree (C♭).

Summary: C♭ Phrygian Scale

Notes: C♭, D♭♭, E♭♭, F♭, G♭, A♭♭, B♭♭
Mode: 3rd mode of A♭♭ major
Formula: H, W, W, W, H, W, W