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Scale · 7 notes

C♯ Phrygian Scale

C♯ Phrygian is a 7-note scale with the notes C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A B. It sounds minor with a flattened 2nd, dark and tense with a Spanish flavour.

DEABC♯F♯G♯

Purple = C♯ (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every C♯ phrygian note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABDEF♯G♯ABC♯DEG♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯

Blue = C♯ (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the C♯ Phrygian scale

DegreeNoteName
1C♯Tonic
♭2DSupertonic
♭3EMediant
4F♯Subdominant
5G♯Dominant
♭6ASubmediant
♭7BSubtonic

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:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iC♯mC♯m7
IIDDmaj7
IIIEE7
ivF♯mF♯m7
v°G♯°G♯ø7
VIAAmaj7
viiBmBm7

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: C♯m, D, E, F♯m, G♯°, A, Bm.

More C♯ scales

C♯ Major, C♯ Natural Minor, C♯ Harmonic Minor, C♯ Melodic Minor, C♯ Dorian, C♯ Mixolydian, C♯ Locrian, C♯ Major Pentatonic, C♯ Minor Pentatonic, C♯ Blues, C♯ Altered, C♯ Dorian ♭2, C♯ Mixolydian ♭6, C♯ Locrian ♯2, C♯ Phrygian Dominant, C♯ Double Harmonic, C♯ Diminished (W–H), 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.