D♭ Phrygian Scale
The D♭ Phrygian scale is the third mode of the B♭♭ 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 D♭ Phrygian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.
D♭ Phrygian Scale Notes
The D♭ Phrygian mode contains the following notes:
D♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭♭ – C♭These notes come directly from the B♭♭ major parent scale, starting on its 3rd degree (D♭).
D♭ Phrygian Piano Diagram
This diagram highlights which keys belong to the D♭ Phrygian scale, which is helpful for visualizing whole steps, half steps, and characteristic tones such as the flat 2 (E♭♭), which gives this scale its signature sound.
D♭ Phrygian Scale Formula and Intervals
The interval formula for the Phrygian mode is:
Half – Whole – Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – WholeApplied to D♭, this gives us:
- D♭ → E♭♭
- E♭♭ → F♭
- F♭ → G♭
- G♭ → A♭
- A♭ → B♭♭
- B♭♭ → C♭
- C♭ → D♭
Thus, D♭ Phrygian is built with the following scale degrees:
- Root (D♭)
- Minor 2nd (E♭♭)
- Minor 3rd (F♭)
- Perfect 4th (G♭)
- Perfect 5th (A♭)
- Minor 6th (B♭♭)
- Minor 7th (C♭)
This structure gives the Phrygian mode its characteristic minor quality combined with a distinctive lowered 2nd.
Chords in the Key of D♭ Phrygian
When stacking thirds on each scale degree of the D♭ Phrygian scale, the following diatonic chords emerge:
- D♭ minor (i)
- E♭♭ major (II)
- F♭ major (III)
- G♭ minor (iv)
- A♭ diminished (v°)
- B♭♭ major (VI)
- C♭ minor (vii)
Related Scales and Modes
If you enjoy the sound of D♭ Phrygian, you may also like:
- D♭ Phrygian Dominant (Phrygian with a major 3rd)
- D♭ Natural Minor (Aeolian)
- D♭ Locrian
- B♭♭ Major (parent scale)
D♭ Phrygian Scale FAQs
How is D♭ Phrygian different from D♭ natural minor?
D♭ Phrygian has a minor 2nd (E♭♭) while D♭ natural minor has a major 2nd (E♭). These two scales are otherwise identical.
What is the parent scale of D♭ Phrygian?
B♭♭ major. D♭ Phrygian uses the same notes as B♭♭ major, but starts on its third degree (D♭).
Summary: D♭ Phrygian Scale
- Notes: D♭, E♭♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, C♭
- Mode: 3rd mode of B♭♭ major
- Formula: H, W, W, W, H, W, W