Notes in the D Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic |
| ♭2 | E♭ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | F | Mediant |
| 4 | G | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Dominant |
| ♭6 | B♭ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | C | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E♭ F G A B♭ C.
D 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 D Phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | Dm7 |
| II | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| III | F | F7 |
| iv | Gm | Gm7 |
| v° | A° | Aø7 |
| VI | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
| vii | Cm | Cm7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: B♭ Major, which has exactly the same notes as D Phrygian.
How to practise the D 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 D Phrygian scale?
The notes of the D Phrygian scale are D E♭ F G A B♭ C.
What is the formula for the D 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 D Phrygian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Dm, E♭, F, Gm, A°, B♭, Cm.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Harmonic Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Dorian, D Lydian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Whole Tone, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Double Harmonic, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D 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.