Notes in the E♯ Phrygian scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♯ | Tonic |
| ♭2 | F♯ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | G♯ | Mediant |
| 4 | A♯ | Subdominant |
| 5 | B♯ | Dominant |
| ♭6 | C♯ | Submediant |
| ♭7 | D♯ | Subtonic |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯.
E♯ 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 E♯ Phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | E♯m | E♯m7 |
| II | F♯ | F♯maj7 |
| III | G♯ | G♯7 |
| iv | A♯m | A♯m7 |
| v° | B♯° | B♯ø7 |
| VI | C♯ | C♯maj7 |
| vii | D♯m | D♯m7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Parent major scale: C♯ Major, which has exactly the same notes as E♯ Phrygian.
How to practise the E♯ 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 E♯ Phrygian scale?
The notes of the E♯ Phrygian scale are E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯.
What is the formula for the E♯ 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 E♯ Phrygian scale?
Built from the scale in triads: E♯m, F♯, G♯, A♯m, B♯°, C♯, D♯m.
More E♯ scales
E♯ Locrian, E♯ Minor Pentatonic, E♯ Blues, E♯ Altered
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.