C Phrygian Scale
The C Phrygian scale contains C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb. It uses 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
C Phrygian scale chart
Sharps and flats
C Phrygian has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. Its parent major scale is Ab major, which uses the same notes. See the chords in the key of Ab major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 0 |
| b2 | Db | 1 |
| b3 | Eb | 3 |
| 4 | F | 5 |
| 5 | G | 7 |
| b6 | Ab | 8 |
| b7 | Bb | 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 C 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 C Phrygian.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Cm | C Eb G |
| 2 | II | Db | Db F Ab |
| 3 | III | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 4 | iv | Fm | F Ab C |
| 5 | v° | Gdim | G Bb Db |
| 6 | VI | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 7 | vii | Bbm | Bb Db F |
Other modes on C
More scales on C
Phrygian scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Phrygian scale?
The C Phrygian scale contains C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, then returns to C an octave higher.
How many flats are in C Phrygian?
C Phrygian has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
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 C Phrygian scale?
The diatonic chords are Cm, Db, Eb, Fm, Gdim, Ab, Bbm. Each is built only from notes of the C Phrygian scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.