B♭ Phrygian Scale (Bb)
The Bb Phrygian scale contains Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab. It uses 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. It uses the same piano keys as A# Phrygian, spelled A# – B – C# – D# – E# – F# – G# (6 sharps).
Bb Phrygian scale chart
Sharps and flats
Bb Phrygian has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. Its parent major scale is Gb major, which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of F# major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Bb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | 0 |
| b2 | Cb | 1 |
| b3 | Db | 3 |
| 4 | Eb | 5 |
| 5 | F | 7 |
| b6 | Gb | 8 |
| b7 | Ab | 10 |
Step pattern
The Phrygian scale is built from the pattern H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Bb Phrygian
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Bb Phrygian.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 2 | II | Cb | Cb Eb Gb |
| 3 | III | Db | Db F Ab |
| 4 | iv | Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| 5 | v° | Fdim | F Ab Cb |
| 6 | VI | Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| 7 | vii | Abm | Ab Cb Eb |
Other modes on Bb
More scales on Bb
Phrygian scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Bb Phrygian scale?
The Bb Phrygian scale contains Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, then returns to Bb an octave higher.
How many flats are in Bb Phrygian?
Bb Phrygian has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb.
What is the step pattern of the Phrygian scale?
The Phrygian scale follows the whole/half step pattern H – W – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Bb Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords are Bbm, Cb, Db, Ebm, Fdim, Gb, Abm. Each is built only from notes of the Bb Phrygian scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.