stringery

C phrygian

Minor with a flat 2nd: flamenco and metal. Minor family

Dark, Spanish, menacing.

Root position4 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the flat 2nd, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. CRH
  2. D♭♭2W
  3. E♭♭3W
  4. F4W
  5. G5H
  6. A♭♭6W
  7. B♭♭7W

The flat 2nd sits one fret above the root, a tense half step that gives it the flamenco and metal edge.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC phrygian

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12345EADGBE3579121545♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭2♭345♭6♭7R♭245♭6♭7R♭2♭345

Position 4 is outlined, frets 8 to 11. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C phrygian key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Cmi
  2. D♭II
  3. E♭III
  4. Fmiv
  5. Gdimv°
  6. A♭VI
  7. B♭mvii

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • A♭ major

    Same notes, but home is A♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F minor

    Same notes, but home is F: sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

  • B♭ dorian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • E♭ mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is E♭: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • D♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is D♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.