Phrygian

What it means

The Phrygian mode runs on the natural notes from E to E. Its hallmark is the low second degree: it lies only a semitone above the finalis. Compared with natural minor, that is the only difference — and it shapes the sound so strongly that the mode is instantly recognizable among all others.

Musical use

The effect rests on the direction of this semitone. While in major and minor the semitone below the tonic pulls upward, here the semitone above the tonic falls down to it. From this a downward gradient arises, felt as dark, serious, occasionally urgent.

In the order of the church modes, Phrygian is the third mode; its plagal form is called Hypophrygian. In polyphonic music it led to a closing formula of its own: the Phrygian cadence, a half cadence with a falling fourth in the bass, which remained in use well into the Baroque period.

The Phrygian sound has remained especially alive in the music of Spain and the Mediterranean region. Flamenco rests in large part on a turn that starts from the Phrygian scale, with a major triad often standing above the tonic — the combination of the low second degree and the major third produces a sound that eludes classification as major or minor.

Phrygian is to be distinguished from Locrian, which additionally has a diminished fifth and can therefore form no centre.

Phrygian is the third church mode, with finalis E. Through the semitone step above the finalis it has an austere, dark character. In Spanish music, especially in flamenco, the Phrygian mode with a major third is very widespread, and the chord progression Am–G–F–E forms a basic model there.

Performance practice

Watch the second degree — it is the hallmark, and it falls to the tonic instead of striving up to it. Phrase this movement downward. And practise the mode in comparison with natural minor on the same tonic; this way the difference becomes ingrained.