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