G Phrygian Mode

Q: What is the Phrygian mode?

Phrygian is a musical mode — a scale viewed from a specific degree. Modes provide a distinctive colour different from plain major or minor: they sound a particular way depending on their interval formula.

Q: How do I distinguish Phrygian from other modes?

Each mode has a characteristic tone — the degree that makes it recognisable. On this page you can highlight the characteristic tone using the "Char. tone" button.

Q: What genres use the Phrygian mode?

Different modes are associated with different genres and moods. See the description and theory block on this page.

Q: How do I learn modes on guitar?

Start by learning major scale patterns, then understand how each mode starts from a different degree. Focus on the characteristic tone of each mode and how it sounds in the context of chords.

Minor mode with a flat second. The lowered second defines the tense character. Used in Spanish and Eastern music.

How to play the mode

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордG MinorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоG Minor arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаG Minor Scale7 нот

ЛадG Phrygian

ТональностьG MinorМинорная тональность

ПрогрессияAndalusian cadenceМинорная последовательность

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: G Phrygian mode
Type: Minor
Note count: 7
Description: Minor mode with a flat second. The lowered second defines the tense character. Used in Spanish and Eastern music.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Groot
2G#minor 2nd
3A#minor 3rd
4Cperfect 4th
5Dperfect 5th
6D#minor 6th
7Fminor 7th

Characteristic degree: G# — lowered 2nd degree(minor 2nd)
Significance: These degrees shape the color of Phrygian and distinguish it from natural minor.

How it sounds

Character: dark and tense character
pronounced Eastern or Spanish color
feeling of compression and pull due to the lowered 2nd degree
Characteristic interval: Minor 2ndm2 · 1 st
Description: The minor second (1 semitone from root) creates the characteristic Spanish, flamenco sound.
Where recognized: III degree of major
Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music
Phrygian cadence

🎹 G Phrygian mode on piano →

How this mode works

Parent scale: Ionian (major)
Position in system: 3rd mode of the Ionian (major) scale
Sibling modes: G DorianMinor mode with a raised sixth G LydianMajor with a raised fourth G MixolydianMajor with a flat seventh G LocrianMode with a flat fifth

Base scale for comparison: natural minor (Aeolian)
Changed degrees: 2G#lowered 2nd degree
Short formula: Phrygian is natural minor with a lowered 2nd.

Chords by degreeG Phrygian

iGmminG Bb DTonic IIAbmajAb C Eb IIIBbmajBb D F ivCmminC Eb GSubdominant v°DdimdimD F Ab VIEbmajEb G Bb viiFmminF Ab C

Harmonic context

Most convincing on bII–i cadences (Phrygian cadence). Foundation of flamenco and metal riffs.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1G(Соль)root
3A#(Ля-диез)minor 3rd
5D(Ре)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 2G#(Соль-диез)lowered 2nd degree
Tendencies & resolutions: 7FF
1GG
subtonic tends toward the tonic (whole step down) — soft tendency
4CC
3A#A#
4th degree resolves down to the minor 3rd
2G#G#
1GG
lowered 2nd strongly pulls down to tonic (half step)
6D#D#
5DD
6th degree resolves down to the 5th (half step)

Connections & usage

Parent scale

G Ionian (major)Classic major mode

Sibling modes

G DorianMinor mode with a raised sixth G LydianMajor with a raised fourth G MixolydianMajor with a flat seventh G LocrianMode with a flat fifth

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

CmC Minor Cm7C Minor 7 Csus2C Sus2 Csus4C Sus4 C7sus4C 7sus4 C5C Power chord Cm9C Minor 9 Cmadd9C Minor Add9

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Cm11C Minor 11 C9sus4C 9sus4 Cm(add11)C Minor Add11 C7sus2C 7sus2

DdimD Diminished Dm7b5D Half-dim 7

EbEb Major Ebmaj7Eb Major 7 Ebsus2Eb Sus2 Ebsus4Eb Sus4 Eb5Eb Power chord Eb6Eb 6th Eb6/9Eb 6/9 Ebmaj9Eb Major 9

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Ebadd9Eb Add9 Ebmaj11Eb Major 11 Ebmaj13Eb Major 13 Ebadd11Eb Add11 Eb6sus4Eb 6sus4

FmF Minor Fm7F Minor 7 Fsus2F Sus2 Fsus4F Sus4 F7sus4F 7sus4 F5F Power chord Fm6F Minor 6 Fm6/9F Minor 6/9

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Fm9F Minor 9 Fmadd9F Minor Add9 Fm11F Minor 11 F9sus4F 9sus4 Fm13F Minor 13 Fm(add11)F Minor Add11 F6sus4F 6sus4 F7sus2F 7sus2

GmG Minor Gm7G Minor 7 Gsus4G Sus4 G7sus4G 7sus4 G5G Power chord Gm(add11)G Minor Add11

AbAb Major Abmaj7Ab Major 7 Absus2Ab Sus2 Ab5Ab Power chord Ab6Ab 6th Ab6/9Ab 6/9 Abmaj9Ab Major 9 Abadd9Ab Add9

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Abmaj13Ab Major 13 Abmaj7b5Ab Major 7b5 Abmaj7#11Ab Major 7#11

BbBb Major Bb7Bb Dominant 7 Bbsus2Bb Sus2 Bbsus4Bb Sus4 Bb7sus4Bb 7sus4 Bb5Bb Power chord Bb6Bb 6th Bb6/9Bb 6/9

Show more (8)

Bb9Bb 9th Bbadd9Bb Add9 Bb11Bb 11th Bb13Bb 13th Bb9sus4Bb 9sus4 Bbadd11Bb Add11 Bb6sus4Bb 6sus4 Bb7sus2Bb 7sus2

Musical application

Genres

Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music

In melody

Flamenco melodies, metal riffs. Flat 2nd creates tense phrase openings.

In improvisation

Spanish-style improvisation. Effective with bII–i motion (Phrygian cadence).

In harmonic thinking

Phrygian cadence bII–i. Static pedal tones with descending motion.

Musical context

Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music. Paco de Lucía, Megadeth.

Play this mode

Practice positions and characteristic tones on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

ModeLydianNext mode in the church mode system ModeLydianParallel mode — same notes, different character ScaleMinor pentatonicPentatonic — simplified version to start with ProgressionFlamenco Phrygian cadenceProgression that works well with this mode

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Fitting progressions

Flamenco Phrygian cadence (i-bVII-bVI-V)Metal power minor (i-bVII-bVI-V)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Lydian Mixolydian

Recommended for you

What is the Phrygian mode?

How do I distinguish Phrygian from other modes?

What genres use the Phrygian mode?

How do I learn modes on guitar?