Notes in the C Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Tonic |
| ♭2 | D♭ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Mediant |
| 4 | F | Subdominant |
| 5 | G | Dominant |
| ♭6 | A♭ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | B♭ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭.
C Phrygian scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
Chords in the C Phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | Cm7 |
| II | D♭ | D♭maj7 |
| III | E♭ | E♭7 |
| iv | Fm | Fm7 |
| v° | G° | Gø7 |
| VI | A♭ | A♭maj7 |
| vii | B♭m | B♭m7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: A♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as C Phrygian.
How to practise the C Phrygian scale
Learn each mode by its characteristic note: the one that makes it different from the major or minor scale it most resembles. Play a drone on the tonic while you play the scale to hear its colour.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the C Phrygian scale?
The notes of the C Phrygian scale are C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭.
What is the formula for the C Phrygian scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
What chords are in the C Phrygian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, G°, A♭, B♭m.
More C scales
C Major, C Natural Minor, C Harmonic Minor, C Melodic Minor, C Dorian, C Lydian, C Mixolydian, C Locrian, C Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, C Blues, C Lydian Dominant, C Altered, C Whole Tone, C Dorian ♭2, C Lydian Augmented, C Mixolydian ♭6, C Locrian ♯2, C Phrygian Dominant, C Hungarian Minor, C Double Harmonic, C Diminished (W–H), C Diminished (H–W), C Bebop Dominant, C Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.