D

Modes Scale

D Phrygian

The 3rd mode — minor with a flat 2nd. Dark, Spanish, brooding.

Notes in D Phrygian

D1
D#2
F3
G4
A5
A#6
C7
D8

Chords in D Phrygian

7 diatonic chords
DegreeChordNotesQuality
iDmD – F – Aminor
IID#D# – G – A#major
IIIFF – A – Cmajor
ivGmG – A# – Dminor
vA°A – C – D#diminished
VIA#A# – D – Fmajor
viiCmC – D# – Gminor

Other Scales in D

MajorD, E, F#, G, A, B, C#Natural MinorD, E, F, G, A, A#, CHarmonic MinorD, E, F, G, A, A#, C#Melodic MinorD, E, F, G, A, B, C#DorianD, E, F, G, A, B, CLydianD, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#MixolydianD, E, F#, G, A, B, CLocrianD, D#, F, G, G#, A#, CMajor PentatonicD, E, F#, A, BMinor PentatonicD, F, G, A, CBluesD, F, G, G#, A, CWhole ToneD, E, F#, G#, A#, CDiminished (H-W)D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, B, CDiminished (W-H)D, E, F, G, G#, A#, B, C#Phrygian DominantD, D#, F#, G, A, A#, CHungarian MinorD, E, F, G#, A, A#, C#Lydian DominantD, E, F#, G#, A, B, C

Phrygian in All 12 Keys

CC C# D# F G G# A#C#D♭Db D E Gb Ab A BDD D# F G A A# CD#E♭Eb E Gb Ab Bb B DbEE F G A B C DFF Gb Ab Bb C Db EbF#G♭F# G A B C# D EGG G# A# C D D# FG#A♭Ab A B Db Eb E GbAA A# C D E F GA#B♭Bb B Db Eb F Gb AbBB C D E F# G A

Practice by Ear

Scale RecognitionIdentify the Phrygian scale by ear →Play D PhrygianHear the scale and practice recognising it →Chord Recognition TrainerIdentify the chords above by ear →Progression TrainerIdentify common progressions in this key →

Chords in D Phrygian

The D phrygian scale contains the notes D, D#, F, G, A, A#, C. The 3rd mode — minor with a flat 2nd. Dark, Spanish, brooding.

The diatonic chords in D phrygian are Dm (i), D# (II), F (III), Gm (iv), A° (v), A# (VI), Cm (vii). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the D phrygian scale.

To develop your ear for the D 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.