(MED. SWING ♩=80)
82

Jazz Piano · The Spanish Minor

Phrygian Mode

1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7 — minor with flat 2, twelve keys

Phrygian is the 3rd mode of major — minor with a ♭2. C phrygian: C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C. The ♭2 sits a half step above the root, giving the scale a dark, exotic, vaguely Spanish quality. Used over m7 chords when you want the phrygian colour, and over modal vamps with a ♭II/I bass motion.

Not to be confused with phrygian dominant (mode 5 of harmonic minor, with a natural 3rd) which is a different scale entirely. Plain phrygian keeps the minor third intact.

Now 2 octaves, both hands — the same pattern extended up and back with fingering marked above every note in each hand.

Intervals

1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7. Minor with flat 2.

Use

Over m7 in dark modal contexts; ♭II/I vamps.

01

C minor

C m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X 3fr 1 3 1 2 1 X 3fr C m 7
02

F minor

F m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 F m 7
03

B♭ minor

1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7
04

E♭ minor

1 2 3 4 X X E m 7 E m 7 1 2 3 4 X X
05

A♭ minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 4fr A m 7 A m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 4fr
06

C♯ minor

C m 7 4 2 1 X O O C m 7 4 2 1 X O O
07

F♯ minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 F m 7 F m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1
08

B minor

1 3 1 2 1 X B m 7 B m 7 1 3 1 2 1 X
09

E minor

E m 7 2 O O O O O E m 7 2 O O O O O
10

A minor

2 1 X O O O A m 7 A m 7 2 1 X O O O
11

D minor

2 1 1 X X O D m 7 2 1 1 X X O D m 7
12

G minor

1 3 1 1 1 1 3fr G m 7 1 3 1 1 1 1 3fr G m 7

Minor with a flat 2. The mode of flamenco, the mode of dark modal vamps.

80 bpm
Sound