E Phrygian mode
E Phrygian mode is E – F – G – A – B – C – D, all naturals. Formula 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. Play it, then slow the tempo until every note is clear.
The notes, one step at a time
The step pattern is H W W W H W W (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between E–F and B–C.
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root | |
| ♭2 | F | minor second | |
| ♭3 | G | minor third | |
| 4 | A | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | B | perfect fifth | |
| ♭6 | C | minor sixth | |
| ♭7 | D | minor seventh |
How the Phrygian mode sounds
E Phrygian starts with a half step (E to F). That opening half step is the whole character of the mode; the rest matches E natural minor.
The Phrygian move is F to Em, a major chord a half step above home sliding down to it.
Compared with E natural minor scale, E Phrygian mode has F where the other has F♯; the other six notes are shared. Hear E natural minor scale and compare.
E Phrygian mode uses the same seven notes as C major, starting from E instead of C. Same notes, different home note: what makes it Phrygian is playing it over a E bass or chord.
On piano and on guitar
On the piano it uses only white keys.
The guitar box starts with the root open on the low E string and spans frets 0–5: 18 notes, low string to high.
Chords built on each note
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get 7 chords. These are the chords that fit E Phrygian mode; the ones that differ from the C major set are what give the mode its color. Tap to hear each one.
E Phrygian mode shares all its notes with C major (starting on the 6th note, C), D Dorian (starting on the 7th note, D), F Lydian (starting on the 2nd note, F), G Mixolydian (starting on the 3rd note, G), A natural minor (starting on the 4th note, A) and B Locrian (starting on the 5th note, B). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
E Phrygian mode across the fretboard
Anchor points for E: low E string fret 0 and 12, A string fret 7 (0 = open string). Five overlapping fingerings cover the neck, starting near frets 2, 5, 7, 9 and 12 on the low E string. Start from the root and go straight to the ♭2 and back; that half step carries the whole mode.
On the piano, E Phrygian mode uses no black keys at all.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: E–G, F–A, G–B, A–C, B–D, C–E, D–F, then back down.
Drills for E Phrygian
Try these after the plain scale. Tap to hear each pattern at a steady speed, then play along.
- Three-note runs: E F G · F G A · G A B · A B C · B C D · C D E.
- Land on F: E F E F E: the ♭2, a half step above the root, is the Spanish flavour.
Close relatives of E Phrygian mode
Phrygian mode in every key
E Phrygian mode: questions
What are the notes of the E Phrygian mode?
E, F, G, A, B, C and D, then E again at the octave. Formula: 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
How many sharps or flats are in the E Phrygian mode?
Zero: E Phrygian is all naturals.
What chords are in the E Phrygian mode?
Stacking thirds on each note gives Em (i), F (II), G (III), Am (iv), Bdim (v°), C (VI) and Dm (vii).
What's the difference between E Phrygian mode and E natural minor scale?
F in E Phrygian; F♯ in the other. Everything else is the same.
Which major scale has the same notes as E Phrygian mode?
C major. E Phrygian is C major played from its 3rd note, E.
Every note on this page is computed from 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 and tested. Updated September 2026.