fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON GUITAR

C♯ Phrygian

Minor with a lowered 2nd — Spanish flamenco, dark, modal-jazz colour.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title C♯ Phrygian Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: CGCFAD
35791215CGCFADC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DG♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯AC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABDEF♯G♯ABC♯DE
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the C♯ Phrygian scale?

The C♯ Phrygian scale uses the notes C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Phrygian scale formula?

The Phrygian scale follows the interval pattern H W W W H W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on C♯ to get the C♯ Phrygian scale.

What chords work over C♯ Phrygian?

Phrygian works over the bIIImaj7 borrowed-chord vamp and Spanish-flamenco harmonic minor V chord (Phrygian dominant raises the 3rd).

How do I finger C♯ Phrygian on Guitar?

On guitar, scales are typically learned as position patterns — three- or four-notes-per-string shapes that move up the neck. The CAGED system positions each scale in five interconnected patterns; the three-notes-per-string approach simplifies modal scales.

When would I use the Phrygian scale?

Minor with a lowered 2nd — Spanish flamenco, dark, modal-jazz colour.