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E♭ Phrygian Scale

The E♭ Phrygian scale is the third mode of the C♭ 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 E♭ Phrygian scale: notes, intervals, theory, and how to play it on the piano.

E♭ Phrygian Scale Notes

The E♭ Phrygian mode contains the following notes:

E♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭

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

E♭ Phrygian Piano Diagram

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

E♭ Phrygian Scale Formula and Intervals

The interval formula for the Phrygian mode is:

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

Applied to E♭, this gives us:

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

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

Chords in the Key of E♭ Phrygian

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

Related Scales and Modes

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

E♭ Phrygian Scale FAQs

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

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

What is the parent scale of E♭ Phrygian?

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

Summary: E♭ Phrygian Scale