F PHRYGIAN MODE

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

F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

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 – Bb – 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 – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

Derivative Approach:

F is the 3rd note of the Db major scale:

Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C

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

F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

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

Positions Along the Fretboard:

The F phrygian scale contains no notes that can be played on the open strings of the guitar. There is therfor no ‘open position’ for F phrygian.

Let’s look at F phrygian in the 1st position (lowest fret is 1)

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

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

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

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

That covers the 5 basic positions of F phrygian along the guitar fretboard.

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