F SHARP PHRYGIAN MODE

‘F sharp phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the D major scale. The notes in F# Phrygian are:

F# – G – A – B – C# – D – E

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 F# Phrygian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

F# Major has the following notes:

F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E#

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

F# – G – A – B – C# – D – E

Derivative Approach:

F# is the 3rd note of the D major scale:

D – E – F#- G – A – B – C#

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

F# – G – A – B – C# – D – E

Let’s look at the F# 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 F# phrygian in the 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

Now let’s look at F# phrygian in the 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

Now let’s look at F# phrygian in the 6th position (lowest fret is 6)

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

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

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

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