The Phrygian Scales

The Phrygian mode is one of the seven traditional musical modes, recognized for its exotic, dark, and tense quality that immediately sets it apart from the major and minor scales. Built by lowering the second note of the natural minor scale, it produces a sound that is mysterious and dramatic—often described as minor with a distinctly Spanish or Middle Eastern flavor. This mode can be found in some ancient chant, heavy metal and modern film scores.

In the Phrygian mode, the arrangement of whole steps (tones) and half steps (semitones) between consecutive notes follows a specific pattern. Consecutive notes are a whole step apart, except for the 1st to 2nd degree, 4th to 5th degree, and 5th to 6th degree, which are half steps. This structure gives the Phrygian scale its distinctive bite: it is close to the natural minor scale, but with a lowered 2nd that adds tension and a sense of unresolved mystery.

Let’s take a look at the Phrygian scales on each starting note.

Phrygian Scales

E Phrygian

E Phrygian consists of all white notes.

Here are the notes in E Phrygian: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E

Ascending scale of E Phrygian

E Phrygian Notes on the Piano

Listen to the E Phrygian Scale here:

F Phrygian

Here are the notes in F Phrygian: F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of F Phrygian — Ascending Scale of F Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of F Phrygian on the piano — Notes of F Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to the F Phrygian Scale here:

F# Phrygian or G♭ Phrygian

Here are the notes of F# Phrygian: F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of F#Phrygian — Here are the notes of F# Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of F# Phrygian on the piano — Notes of F# Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to F# Phrygian Scale here:

Note that F# and G♭ Phrygian are enharmonic to each other. They essentially sound the same.

G Phrygian

Here are the notes of G Phrygian: G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of G Phrygian — Ascending Scale of G Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of G Phrygian on the piano — Notes of G Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to G Phrygian here:

G# Phrygian or A♭ Phrygian

Here are the notes of G# Phrygian: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of G# Phrygian — Ascending Scale of G# Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of G# Phrygian on the piano — Notes of G# Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to G# Phrygian here:

Note that G# and A♭ Phrygian are enharmonic to each other. They essentially sound the same.

A Phrygian

Here are the notes of A Phrygian: A, B♭, C, D, E, F, G, A

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of A Phrygian — Ascending Scale of A Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of A Phrygian on the piano — Notes of A Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to A Phrygian here:

A# Phrygian or B♭ Phrygian

Here are the notes of A# Phrygian: A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of A# Phrygian — Ascending Scale of A# Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of A# Phrygian on the piano — Notes of A# Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to A# Phrygian:

Note that A# and B♭ Phrygian are enharmonic to each other. They essentially sound the same.

B Phrygian

Here are the notes of B Phrygian: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of B Phrygian — Ascending Scale of B Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of B Phrygian on the piano — Notes of B Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to B Phrygian here:

C Phrygian

Here are the notes of C Phrygian: C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of C Phrygian — Ascending Scale of C Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of C Phrygian on the piano — C Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to the C Phrygian Scale here:

C# Phrygian or D♭ Phrygian

Here are the notes of C# Phrygian: C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of C# Phrygian — C# Phrygian on the Piano

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of C# Phrygian on the piano — Notes of C# Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to C# Phrygian here:

Note that C# and D♭ Phrygian are enharmonic to each other. They essentially sound the same.

D Phrygian

Here are the notes of D Phrygian: D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of D Phrygian — Ascending Scale of D Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of D Phrygian on the piano — Notes of D Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to the D Phrygian Scale here:

D# Phrygian or E♭ Phrygian

Here are the notes of D# Phrygian: D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of D# Phrygian — Ascending Scale of D# Phrygian

Here are the notes for the ascending scale of D# Phrygian on the piano — Notes of D# Phrygian on the Piano

Listen to D# Phrygian scale here:

Note that D# and E♭ Phrygian are enharmonic to each other. They essentially sound the same.

Listen to the Phrygian Scale

Listening to scales help us understand and identify the feel of the Phrygian mode better.

You can find the playlist of the scales here:

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