Phrygian mode chord chart
Phrygian mode differs with four notes from the major scale. This affects how chord progressions are constructed. The second, third and sixth degrees are no longer minor but major. The opposite is true for the fourth and fifth degrees that change from major to minor. Because of this, many new chord combinations with different features are possible if the Phrygian is used.
The first table with chords shows the relationship of all triads in this mode (Phrygian can be seen as a minor mode). The first column shows the key note of the mode and on the same row the other chords that fits together with it.
Chords in Phrygian modes
| i | II | III | iv | v | VI | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D#m | E | F# | G#m | A#dim | B | C#m |
| G#m | A | B | C#m | D#dim | E | F#m |
| C#m | D | E | F#m | G#dim | A | Bm |
| F#m | G | A | Bm | C#dim | D | Em |
| Bm | C | D | Em | F#dim | G | Am |
| Em | F | G | Am | Bdim | C | Dm |
| Am | Bb | C | Dm | Edim | F | Gm |
| Dm | Eb | F | Gm | Adim | Bb | Cm |
| Gm | Ab | Bb | Cm | Ddim | Eb | Fm |
| Cm | Db | Eb | Fm | Gdim | Ab | Bbm |
| Fm | Gb | Ab | Bbm | Cdim | Db | Ebm |
| Bbm | Db | Db | Ebm | Fdim | Gb | Abm |
| Ebm | E | Gb | Abm | Bbdim | B | Dbm |
| Abm | A | B | Dbm | Ebdim | E | Gbm |
| Dbm | D | E | Gbm | Abdim | A | Bm |
Phrygian chord progressions
Here are chord progressions based on the Phrygian mode:
C - D - Em - Bm (B Phrygian)
Em - F - G (E Phrygian)
Bb - C - Dm - Am (A Phrygian)
Eb - F - Dm (D Phrygian)
Phrygian is not a scale that is frequently used for building progressions. Nevertheless, the scale can be utilized to find combinations that may not normally be though upon from a major/minor perspective.
Also, the uncovinient diminished v degree can be altered with a V7:
Em - Dm - B7 (E Phrygian)
Four-note chords in Phrygian modes
| i | II | III | iv | v | VI | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D#m7 | Emaj7 | F#6 | G#m7 | A#m7b5 | Bmaj7 | C#m7 |
| G#m7 | Amaj7 | B6 | C#m7 | D#m7b5 | Emaj7 | F#m7 |
| C#m7 | Dmaj7 | E6 | F#m7 | G#m7b5 | Amaj7 | Bm7 |
| F#m7 | Gmaj7 | A6 | Bm7 | C#m7b5 | Dmaj7 | Em7 |
| Bm7 | Cmaj7 | D6 | Em7 | F#m7b5 | Gmaj7 | Am7 |
| Em7 | Fmaj7 | G6 | Am7 | Bm7b5 | Cmaj7 | Dm7 |
| Am7 | Bbmaj7 | C6 | Dm7 | Em7b5 | Fmaj7 | Gm7 |
| Dm7 | Ebmaj7 | F6 | Gm7 | Am7b5 | Bbmaj7 | Cm7 |
| Gm7 | Abmaj7 | Bb6 | Cm7 | Dm7b5 | Ebmaj7 | Fm7 |
| Cm7 | Dbmaj7 | Eb6 | Fm7 | Gm7b5 | Abmaj7 | Bbm7 |
| Fm7 | Gbmaj7 | Ab6 | Bbm7 | Cm7b5 | Dbmaj7 | Ebm7 |
| Bbm7 | Dbmaj7 | Db6 | Ebm7 | Fm7b5 | Gbmaj7 | Abm7 |
| Ebm7 | Emaj7 | Gb6 | Abm7 | Bbm7b5 | Bmaj7 | Dbm7 |
| Abm7 | Amaj7 | B6 | Dbm7 | Ebm7b5 | Emaj7 | Gbm7 |
| Dbm7 | Dmaj7 | E6 | Gbm7 | Abm7b5 | Amaj7 | Bm7 |
Comments
The four-note chords in the second table are not the only possible four-note chords based on the Phrygian, and it can be extended to five-note chords as well. The II chord could also be maj9 or maj13, the iv chord could also be m9 and m11 and so on. In addition, the 6 chord on the third degree can be replaced with a dominant 7th.
Some chord progressions including extended Phrygian based chords:
Bm7 - D6 - Gmaj7 (B Phrygian)
Dm7 - Fmaj7 - G6 - Em7 (E Phrygian)
Bbmaj7 - C6 - Gm7 - Am7 (A Phrygian)
See also:
Lydian mode chord chart
Mixolydian mode chord chart