C
Modes Scale
C Phrygian
The 3rd mode — minor with a flat 2nd. Dark, Spanish, brooding.
Notes in C Phrygian
C1
C#2
D#3
F4
G5
G#6
A#7
C8
Chords in C Phrygian
7 diatonic chordsDegreeChordNotesQuality
iCmC – D# – Gminor
IIC#C# – F – G#major
IIID#D# – G – A#major
ivFmF – G# – Cminor
vG°G – A# – C#diminished
VIG#G# – C – D#major
viiA#mA# – C# – Fminor
Other Scales in C
MajorC, D, E, F, G, A, BNatural MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#Harmonic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, BMelodic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, A, BDorianC, D, D#, F, G, A, A#LydianC, D, E, F#, G, A, BMixolydianC, D, E, F, G, A, A#LocrianC, C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A#Major PentatonicC, D, E, G, AMinor PentatonicC, D#, F, G, A#BluesC, D#, F, F#, G, A#Whole ToneC, D, E, F#, G#, A#Diminished (H-W)C, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A, A#Diminished (W-H)C, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, BPhrygian DominantC, C#, E, F, G, G#, A#Hungarian MinorC, D, D#, F#, G, G#, BLydian DominantC, D, E, F#, G, A, A#
Phrygian in All 12 Keys
Practice by Ear
Chords in C Phrygian
The C phrygian scale contains the notes C, C#, D#, F, G, G#, A#. The 3rd mode — minor with a flat 2nd. Dark, Spanish, brooding.
The diatonic chords in C phrygian are Cm (i), C# (II), D# (III), Fm (iv), G° (v), G# (VI), A#m (vii). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the C phrygian scale.
To develop your ear for the C phrygian sound, use the scale and chord trainers linked above. Being able to recognise these sounds by ear — not just read them from a chart — is what separates musicians who truly hear music from those who only read it.