C Phrygian scale on ukulele
The C Phrygian scale has 7 notes: C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ (C, D flat, E flat, F, G, A flat, and B flat).
- C 1
- D♭ D flat ♭2
- E♭ E flat ♭3
- F 4
- G 5
- A♭ A flat ♭6
- B♭ B flat ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (C) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Position 1 (frets 0 to 4), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: open (C), 1 (D♭), 3 (E♭)
- string 2: 1 (F), 3 (G), 4 (A♭)
- string 4: 3 (B♭)
- string 1: 3 (C), 4 (D♭)
Position 2 (frets 1 to 5), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 1 (D♭), 3 (E♭), 5 (F)
- string 2: 3 (G), 4 (A♭)
- string 4: 3 (B♭), 5 (C)
- string 1: 4 (D♭)
Position 3 (frets 3 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 3 (E♭), 5 (F), 7 (G)
- string 2: 4 (A♭), 6 (B♭)
- string 4: 5 (C), 6 (D♭)
- string 1: 6 (E♭)
Position 4 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 5 (F), 7 (G), 8 (A♭)
- string 2: 6 (B♭), 8 (C), 9 (D♭)
- string 4: 8 (E♭)
- string 1: 8 (F)
Position 5 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 7 (G), 8 (A♭), 10 (B♭)
- string 2: 8 (C), 9 (D♭), 11 (E♭)
- string 4: 10 (F)
- string 1: 10 (G), 11 (A♭)
Position 6 (frets 8 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 8 (A♭), 10 (B♭), 12 (C)
- string 2: 9 (D♭), 11 (E♭)
- string 4: 10 (F), 12 (G)
- string 1: 11 (A♭)
Position 7 (frets 10 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 3: 10 (B♭), 12 (C), 13 (D♭)
- string 2: 11 (E♭), 13 (F)
- string 4: 12 (G), 13 (A♭)
- string 1: 13 (B♭)
Fretboard positions
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (C).
On the ukulele the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- C
- H
- D♭
- W
- E♭
- W
- F
- W
- G
- H
- A♭
- W
- B♭
- W
- C
Degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. Steps: H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the Phrygian scale
A minor mode with a minor 2nd. Dark and Spanish-sounding, common in metal and flamenco.
Harmonized scale (chords in the key)
The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.
Scales with the same notes
More C scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Phrygian in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C Phrygian scale?
The notes of the C Phrygian scale are C, D flat, E flat, F, G, A flat, and B flat. The root, degree 1, is C.
What is the formula of the C Phrygian scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: H – W – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the C Phrygian scale on ukulele?
Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (C). There are 7 positions on ukulele, each with the full fingering.
Which chords belong to the C Phrygian scale?
The chords of the harmonized scale are: Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, G°, A♭, B♭m.