G♯ Phrygian

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

PARENT FAMILY · E MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (E major). G♯ Phrygian is the III mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	E Ionian	Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	F♯ Dorian	F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	G♯ Phrygian	G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A Lydian	Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	B Mixolydian	B7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	C♯ Aeolian	C♯m7 – D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	D♯ Locrian	D♯m7♭5 – Emaj7 – F♯m7 – G♯m7 – Amaj7 – B7 – C♯m7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E F♯

Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

G♯m7

II

Amaj7

III

B7

IV

C♯m7

V

D♯m7♭5

VI

Emaj7

VII

F♯m7

▸ Play G♯ Phrygian over G♯m7 and B7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DARK, TENSE, SPANISH/FLAMENCO

DARK, TENSE, SPANISH/FLAMENCO

G♯ Phrygian is a minor mode with a dark, tense, spanish/flamenco character. It is the III mode of E major — it uses the same 7 notes as E Ionian but is rooted on G♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is G♯m7.

Where to use G♯ 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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