Major Modes

C♯ / D♭ Phrygian

NOTES

C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A B C♯

SCALE FORMULA

1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7

ABOUT THIS SCALE

A dark minor mode distinguished by its flat second. Common in metal, flamenco-influenced music and heavier modal sounds.

GUITAR FRETBOARD

Standard tuning — E A D G B E — open through fret 24.

Direction

Speed

Scale note Root Click any note to hear it.

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Playback: The scale follows a practical two-octave route across nearby strings and frets. The note currently sounding turns bright white.

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Chord progression ideas

Key of C♯ / D♭

i – ♭II – i

C♯m → D → C♯m

The half-step movement between the tonic and flat-II chord is the signature Phrygian sound.

i – ♭II – ♭vii – i

C♯m → D → Bm → C♯m

A darker progression that keeps the flat second prominent while giving the soloist additional movement.