A Phrygian

Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco — built from F major

PARENT FAMILY · F MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (F major). A Phrygian is the III mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	F Ionian	Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – B♭maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	G Dorian	Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	A Phrygian	Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A♯ Lydian	A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	C Mixolydian	C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	D Aeolian	Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	E Locrian	Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

A A♯ C D E F G

Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

The Phrygian scale on A contains the notes A, A♯, C, D, E, F, G. The pentatonic subset is A, C, D, E, G.

Characteristic note: the ♭2 (flat second) creates its dark, Spanish-sounding tension.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Am7

II

A♯maj7

III

C7

IV

Dm7

V

Em7♭5

VI

Fmaj7

VII

Gm7

▸ Play A Phrygian over Am7 and C7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DARK, TENSE, SPANISH/FLAMENCO

DARK, TENSE, SPANISH/FLAMENCO

A Phrygian is a minor mode with a dark, tense, spanish/flamenco character. It is the III mode of F major — it uses the same 7 notes as F Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Am7.

Where to use A Phrygian

Metal, flamenco, film scores.

Famous examples

White Zombie riffs
flamenco progressions

What makes it distinctive: the ♭2 (flat second) creates its dark, Spanish-sounding tension.

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