C PHRYGIAN MODE

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

C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

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 – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

Derivative Approach:

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

Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G

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

C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

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 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

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

Now let’s look at C phrygian in the 8th position (lowest fret is 8)

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

Finally, let’s look at C phrygian in the 12th position (lowest fret is 12)

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.