Scale
B♭ Phrygian Scale
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this scale.
Notes
B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭
Root: B♭
Intervals
1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7
How it is built
This scale starts on B♭ and applies the intervals 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. The result contains 7 distinct pitch classes per octave.
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Guide and musical context
About B♭ Phrygian Scale
B♭ Phrygian Scale uses the notes B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭. Its character is dark and tense because of its characteristic flat second.
Character and sound
Dark and tense because of its characteristic flat second.
Musical context and history
Modern Phrygian is a minor mode with a flat second. Its name derives from historical modal theory, while contemporary use appears in flamenco, metal, modal jazz and traditional repertoires.
How and where it is used
Use it for minor colors with ♭2, riffs, tonic pedals and modal improvisation.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
This scale can be understood as a mode of the F♯ major scale: it contains the same notes, but B♭ acts as the tonal center. Changing the center changes how the same pitches are perceived.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 and, from B♭, produces the notes B♭ · C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ Phrygian Scale?
The notes are B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Dark and tense because of its characteristic flat second. Use it for minor colors with ♭2, riffs, tonic pedals and modal improvisation.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.