Phrygian (III) - Ukulele
Phrygian mode is the third mode of the major scale. With its distinctive minor second, it evokes Spanish and oriental sonorities, dark and mysterious.
Intervals table
| Degree | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | Root | Minor second | Minor third | Perfect fourth | Perfect fifth | Minor sixth | Minor seventh |
| Semitones | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
Formula: 1 - ♭2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭6 - ♭7
Theoretical construction
Phrygian mode is the third degree of the major scale. If you play a C major scale starting from E, you get E Phrygian. Its unique characteristic is the semitone interval (♭2) just above the tonic, creating immediate tension. Its tonic chord is min7 or min(add♭9). The progression i-♭II (e.g., Emin-F) is typically Phrygian and omnipresent in flamenco. Phrygian dominant mode (with major third) is even more used in Spanish and oriental music.
Position examples
Example with A Phrygian (III)
