C# Phrygian: A Dark Mode from Fret 9
C#, D, E, F#, G#, A and B form the C# Phrygian scale, and none of them needs a double accidental, which makes the key friendly to read. It shares its notes with A major, but the tonic sits on C# and the D right above it creates the tense half-step start.
On guitar the root is at the 9th fret of the low E string and the 4th fret of the A string. Before you speed up, review scale fingering so the stretches stay comfortable.
Play the C# phrygian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C# phrygian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| E | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| F# | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| G# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| A | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| B | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
C# phrygian scale notes:
How the phrygian scale is built:
The phrygian scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern H-W-W-W-H-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 3 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
C# Phrygian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the C# phrygian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as C# Phrygian
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| D Lydian | b2 | Lydian Scale |
| E Mixolydian | b3 | Mixolydian |
| F# Minor | 4 | Minor Scale |
| Ab Locrian | 5 | Locrian Scale |
| A Major | b6 | Major Scale |
| B Dorian | b7 | Dorian Scale |
Other scales on C#
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- C# Indian: drops the b3 and b7
- C# Minor: 2 instead of b2
- C# Locrian: b5 instead of 5
- C# Phrygian Dominant: 3 instead of b3
- C# Dorian b2: 6 instead of b6
The phrygian scale in other keys
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
