C SHARP PHRYGIAN MODE

‘C sharp phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the A major scale. The notes in A Phrygian are:

C# – D – E – F# – G# – A – B

If you have read the post on understanding the phrygian mode, you will know that the phrygian mode contains a ‘flat 2′, a ‘flat 3′, a ‘flat 6′ and a ‘flat 7′ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 3rd mode of a major scale (derivative approach). Let’s briefly look at how to construct C# Phrygian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

C# Major has the following notes:

C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B#

If we ‘flatten’ the 2nd note (D#), the 3rd note (E#), the 6th note (A#) and the 7th note (B#) we get the following:

C# – D – E – F# – G# – A – B

Derivative Approach:

C# is the 3rd note of the A major scale:

A – B – C#- D – E – F# – G#

If we play the A major scale and start on the 3rd note we get the following:

C# – D – E – F# – G# – A – B

Let’s look at the C# phrygian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Positions Along the Fretboard:

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

Now let’s look at C# phrygian in the 1st position (lowest fret is 1)

Now let’s look at C# phrygian in the 4th position (lowest fret is 4)

Now let’s look at C# phrygian in the 5th position (lowest fret is 5)

Now let’s look at C# phrygian in the 9th position (lowest fret is 9)

Finally, let’s look at C# phrygian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of C# phrygian along the guitar fretboard.

For an in depth explanation of the phrygian mode, check out phrygian mode explained.