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C Phrygian Dominant Scale

Hear the C Phrygian Dominant Scale played for you.

C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C
Formula:H-A2-H-W-H-W-W
Intervals:P1-m2-M3-P4-P5-m6-m7

Introduction

The C Phrygian Dominant scale contains seven notes: C, D♭, E, F, G, A♭, and B♭. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern H-A2-H-W-H-W-W.

C Phrygian Dominant Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1TonicCP1
2SupertonicD♭m2
3MediantEM3
4SubdominantFP4
5DominantGP5
6SubmediantA♭m6
7Leading ToneB♭m7
8OctaveC

Key Signature

The key of C Phrygian Dominant has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural, which makes it the easiest key signature to read on the staff.

Chords in the Key of C Phrygian Dominant Scale

These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the C Phrygian Dominant Scale:

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
IC Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IC MajorMajor
2iiD MinorMinor
3iiiE MinorMinor
4IVF MajorMajor
5VG MajorMajor
6viA MinorMinor
7vii°B DiminishedDiminished

C Phrygian Dominant Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the C Phrygian Dominant Scale?
The C Phrygian Dominant Scale contains seven notes: C – Db – E – F – G – Ab – Bb. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does C Phrygian Dominant have?
The key of C Phrygian Dominant has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural — this is the simplest key signature on the staff.
What does the C Phrygian Dominant Scale sound like?
The C Phrygian Dominant Scale has a dark Spanish/flamenco character driven by the lowered second degree. As a mode, it shares notes with a parent major scale but feels different because a different note acts as the tonal center.

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