Phrygian Dominant Mode

The Phrygian Dominant Mode has a Major quality due to its Major Third E. The Phrygian Dominant Mode, like Phrygian Dominant, is based on the Phrygian Mode but has a raised (by a semitone) Third E. The Phrygian Dominant Mode is classified as a heptatonic scale as it has seven notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Below you will find the Phrygian Dominant Mode notes, notation, patterns, degrees, intervals and more. You can also opt to see the Phrygian Dominant Mode on your preferred instrument.

Notes Ascending

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Notes Descending

C, B, A, G, F, E, D, C

Pattern Ascending

S, TS, S, T, S, T, T

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Pattern Descending

T, T, S, T, S, TS, S

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Degrees Ascending

NoteNumberName
C1Tonic
D2Supertonic
E3Mediant
F4Subdominant
G5Dominant
A6Submediant
B7Subtonic
C8Tonic (Octave)

Degrees Descending

NoteNumberName
C8Tonic (Octave)
B7Subtonic
A6Submediant
G5Dominant
F4Subdominant
E3Mediant
D2Supertonic
C1Tonic

Intervals Ascending

NotesSemitonesInterval
C > C0Perfect Unison (P1)
C > D1minor 2nd (m2)
C > E4Major 3rd (M3)
C > F5Perfect 4th (P4)
C > G7Perfect 5th (P5)
C > A8minor 6th (m6)
C > B10minor 7th (m7)
C > C12Perfect Octave (P8)

Intervals Descending

NotesSemitonesInterval
C > C0Perfect Unison (P1)
C > B2Major 2nd (M2)
C > A4Major 3rd (M3)
C > G5Perfect 4th (P4)
C > F7Perfect 5th (P5)
C > E8minor 6th (m6)
C > D11Major 7th (M7)
C > C12Perfect Octave (P8)

Scales related to C Phrygian Dominant Mode

Enharmonic Equivalent

Scale with the same root and notes as the C Phrygian Dominant Mode but different spelling.

B♯ Phrygian Dominant Mode

Chords related to C Phrygian Dominant Mode

Related Triads

These chords have been built using the notes of the C Phrygian Dominant Mode. The chords are in degree order and shown in Roman numerals (lowercase = minor/diminished, uppercase = Major/Augmented).

I Chord - C Major

II Chord - D Major

iiio Chord - E Diminished

iv Chord - F Minor

vo Chord - G Diminished

VI+ Chord - A Augmented

vii Chord - B Minor

Learn to Play Phrygian Dominant Mode

Instrument View

See C Phrygian Dominant Mode on

If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.

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