‘F phrygian’ is the 3rd mode of the Db Major scale. The notes in F phrygian are:
F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb
The phrygian mode has a dark sound, which can be used over minor chords to create interesting and exotic musical ideas.
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.
F Phrygian Mode Using The 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
F Phrygian Mode Using The 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:
F Phrygian CAGED Positions
As there are no notes in F phrygian that can be played on the open strings (with standard tuning) there is no ‘open position’.
F Phrygian in the 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
F Phrygian in the 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
F Phrygian in the 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)
F Phrygian in the 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
F Phrygian in the 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
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.
Further Reading
- Fm7 chord (F phrygian works well over the Fm7 chord).
- Db Major scale contains the mode of F phrygian.
