Phrygian Mode

Phrygian is the darkest of the commonly used modes. The flatted second degree — a half step above the root — gives it an immediately exotic, Spanish, or Middle Eastern quality. It's the sound of flamenco guitar and heavy metal, which aren't as far apart musically as they might seem.

Construction

The third mode of the major scale — starts on the 3rd degree.
E Phrygian = C major scale starting on E:
E F G A B C D E

Formula: 1  ♭2  ♭3  4  5  ♭6  ♭7
Step pattern: H - W - W - W - H - W - W

Compared to natural minor (Aeolian), Phrygian lowers the 2nd degree by a half step. That flatted 2nd is the defining note — it's what makes Phrygian sound Spanish or tense rather than ordinarily minor.

Key Scales

E Phrygian: E F G A B C D E
A Phrygian: A B♭ C D E F G A
D Phrygian: D E♭ F G A B♭ C D
B Phrygian: B C D E F# G A B

Sound and Character

Dark, tense, exotic. The ♭2 creates instant tension — it has nowhere to go but back down to the root or up to the minor third. In flamenco, the Phrygian cadence (moving from the ♭II chord down to the I) is one of the most characteristic moves in the style. In metal, Phrygian provides that menacing, minor-but-more quality: think the intro to "Wherever I May Roam" or most of "Nothing Else Matters." Carlos Santana uses it extensively in his more intense moments.

The Phrygian Cadence

Classic Phrygian resolution:
♭II → Im
In E Phrygian: F major → Em

The move from the F major chord down to E minor is the flamenco sound. It works because F contains all the tension notes of Phrygian (the F and B♭) which resolve inward to E and B.

Where to Use It

Over m7 chords where you want maximum darkness — more intense than Dorian or Aeolian. Particularly effective over m7 chords that sit on the 3rd degree of a major key (Em7 in C major, for example). In jazz, Phrygian appears over minor chords in flamenco-influenced pieces and sometimes in modal compositions. It's less common in standard bebop vocabulary but shows up constantly in fusion and rock with jazz influence.