Learn the C Phrygian scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The C Phrygian scale contains the following notes:
C – D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭The scale degrees of the C Phrygian scale are:
1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| ♭2 | D♭ |
| ♭3 | E♭ |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| ♭6 | A♭ |
| ♭7 | B♭ |
The C Phrygian scale uses the interval pattern H, W, W, W, H, W, W
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| C | D♭ | H |
| D♭ | E♭ | W |
| E♭ | F | W |
| F | G | W |
| G | A♭ | H |
| A♭ | B♭ | W |
| B♭ | C | W |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Perfect Unison |
| ♭2 | D♭ | Minor 2nd |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | A♭ | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | B♭ | Minor 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | C, E♭, G |
| II | D♭ | D♭, F, A♭ |
| III | E♭ | E♭, G, B♭ |
| iv | Fm | F, A♭, C |
| v° | Gdim | G, B♭, D♭ |
| VI | A♭ | A♭, C, E♭ |
| vii | B♭m | B♭, D♭, F |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Cm7 | C, E♭, G, B♭ |
| IImaj7 | D♭maj7 | D♭, F, A♭, C |
| III7 | E♭7 | E♭, G, B♭, D♭ |
| iv7 | Fm7 | F, A♭, C, E♭ |
| vø7 | Gm7♭5 | G, B♭, D♭, F |
| VImaj7 | A♭maj7 | A♭, C, E♭, G |
| vii7 | B♭m7 | B♭, D♭, F, A♭ |
The modes of C Phrygian use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ Ionian | A♭ | A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G |
| B♭ Dorian | B♭ | B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭ |
| C Phrygian | C | C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭ |
| D♭ Lydian | D♭ | D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C |
| E♭ Mixolydian | E♭ | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ |
| F Aeolian | F | F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭ |
| G Locrian | G | G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F |
C Phrygian is the 3rd mode of the A♭ major scale. Both share the same 7 notes — Phrygian starts on the 3rd degree (C) instead of the root (A♭).
The only difference is the 2nd degree. C Phrygian has a minor 2nd (D♭), while C natural minor has a major 2nd. That flat 2nd is Phrygian's defining characteristic — it gives the scale its distinctively dark, tense sound.