Minor mode with ♭2; dark, exotic color often used in metal and flamenco.
Phrygian Mode
Parentage: 3rd mode of the Major Scale
Interval Formula: H – W – W – W – H – W – W
Degrees: 1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
Chords built on degrees: i, ♭II, ♭III, iv, v°, ♭VI, ♭VII
Structure and Function
Phrygian is a minor mode with a distinct, dark tension caused by its flattened 2nd degree (♭2).
That single semitone above the tonic gives it an instantly recognizable, exotic sound—intense, brooding, and often associated with Spanish, Middle Eastern, and flamenco music.
Unlike natural minor (Aeolian), which starts with a whole step from tonic to 2nd, Phrygian begins with a half step, creating immediate friction between the root and next note.
Formula in E Phrygian (from C Major):
E F G A B C D E
| Degree | Function | Interval | Chord | Nashville | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | 0 | Emin | 1 | Minor tonal center |
| ♭2 | Supertonic | +1 | Fmaj | ♭2 | Signature Phrygian tone |
| ♭3 | Mediant | +3 | Gmaj | ♭3 | Reinforces minor color |
| 4 | Subdominant | +5 | Amin | 4 | Builds gentle tension |
| 5 | Dominant | +7 | Bdim | 5 | Weak dominant pull |
| ♭6 | Submediant | +8 | Cmaj | ♭6 | Adds heaviness, depth |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | +10 | Dmin | ♭7 | Modal cadence tone |
Sound and Character
- Mood: dark, tense, exotic, and dramatic.
- Signature interval: ♭2 — the semitone above tonic gives the mode its “bite.”
- Cadence: often i–♭II–i, emphasizing the tension between root and flat 2.
- Melodic use: evokes Middle Eastern, Moorish, or Iberian colors; great for dramatic film scoring or heavy riffs.
The combination of minor tonality + flat 2 makes it both ancient and aggressive — equally at home in flamenco and modern metal.
Use and Application
- Genres: flamenco, Latin, metal, progressive rock, film music.
- Improvisation: Use over minor chords with flat 9 tension (m7♭9) or vamps that alternate i–♭II.
- Chord–scale pairing: i or i7 → Phrygian; ♭II acts as a modal dominant substitute.
- Guitarists: often use the Phrygian dominant (from harmonic minor) as a brighter variation.
Common Song Examples
| Song | Artist | Key/Mode | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Wherever I May Roam” | Metallica | E Phrygian | Metal riff built on E–F semitone tension |
| “Symphony of Destruction” | Megadeth | E Phrygian | Power riff anchored by flat 2 motion |
| “White Rabbit” | Jefferson Airplane | E Phrygian | Psychedelic rock built on static E bass |
| “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” | Pink Floyd | E Phrygian | Repetitive, trance-like modal groove |
| “Misirlou” | Dick Dale | E Phrygian | Surf rock classic with Middle Eastern scale |
| “Soleá” (Traditional Flamenco) | Spanish Folk | A Phrygian | Archetypal Andalusian cadence (i–♭II–i–♭VII) |
Summary
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Parent Major Key | Starts on 3rd degree |
| Tonal Center | Minor |
| Signature Interval | Flat 2nd |
| Emotional Color | Dark, exotic, intense |
| Typical Harmony | i – ♭II – ♭VII or i – ♭II – i |
| Typical Chords | Minor, Minor7, Minor9(♭9), ♭IImaj |
| Usage | Flamenco, Latin, metal, psychedelic rock, tension scenes |