B♭ Phrygian scale

The B♭ Phrygian scale has the notes B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭. Its formula is 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. It is mode 3 of the G♭ major scale: the same notes, starting on B♭. Key signature: 6 flats (B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ G♭ A♭).

It can also be written as A♯; we use the spelling with fewer accidentals.

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Scale notes

Degree	Formula	Note
I	1	B♭ tonic
II	b2	C♭
III	b3	D♭
IV	4	E♭
V	5	F
VI	b6	G♭
VII	b7	A♭

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
Im7 modal center	B♭m7	B♭ D♭ F A♭	Phrygian B♭	11 (E♭)	b9 (C♭), b13 (G♭)
bIIMaj7 characteristic	C♭Maj7	C♭ E♭ G♭ B♭	Lydian C♭	9 (D♭), #11 (F), 13 (A♭)	–
bIII7	D♭7	D♭ F A♭ C♭	Mixolydian D♭	9 (E♭), 13 (B♭)	11 (G♭)
IVm7	E♭m7	E♭ G♭ B♭ D♭	Aeolian E♭	9 (F), 11 (A♭)	b13 (C♭)
Vø	Fø	F A♭ C♭ E♭	Locrian F	11 (B♭), b13 (D♭)	b9 (G♭)
bVIMaj7	G♭Maj7	G♭ B♭ D♭ F	Ionian G♭	9 (A♭), 13 (E♭)	11 (C♭)
bVIIm7 characteristic	A♭m7	A♭ C♭ E♭ G♭	Dorian A♭	9 (B♭), 11 (D♭)	13 (F)

Character and characteristic note

The Phrygian mode is the third mode of the major scale. It is a minor scale whose characteristic note is the flat second (b2), which makes it austere and somber. It is one of the darkest minor modes.

Effect: austere, somber.
Characteristic note: b2.
Characteristic chords: bIIMaj7 (C♭Maj7), bVIIm7 (A♭m7).

How to use it

Center Im7 (often I7sus4(b2)). Characteristic chords bIIMaj7 (the "dark lord") and bVIIm7 (more subtle). The melody keeps coming back to 1 or 5, contrasted with the b2. It can hide its character until the end.

Watch out for

bIIMaj7 / bIII7 moving to bVIMaj7 can tonicize VI.
An exposed b9 is harsh.

Examples

The Slip-Up
Nardis
Deluge

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭ Phrygian scale?

B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭. 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

What chords can you build on the B♭ Phrygian scale?

The seventh chords on each degree are Im7 = B♭m7, bIIMaj7 = C♭Maj7, bIII7 = D♭7, IVm7 = E♭m7, Vø = Fø, bVIMaj7 = G♭Maj7, bVIIm7 = A♭m7.