Phrygian

Phrygian

Phrygian

Now it's time to learn the Phrygian mode. The Phrygian mode in C Major will be E Phrygian. The Phrygian mode is the 3rd mode of the Major Key.

E	F	G	A	B	C	D	E

Now we will work on the Phrygian mode. The Phrygian mode is the 3rd note in the Major Key. The 3rd note in C Major is the E note. This is a minor mode and the chord would be the Em chord.

Try to memorize all the notes that make up each chord. Remember, each section to the left has the notes of each chord.

E minor is the third chord or mode of C Major so we will learn that position now. Look at the image below and check out the notes and positioning of the E Phrygian mode. I prefer the dark sound of the minors over the happy sounding Major scales.

Tablature below.

------------------------------------------------------------------12-13-15-
-----------------------------------------------------12-13-15--------------
-----------------------------------------12-14-16--------------------------
----------------------------12-14-15---------------------------------------
---------------12-14-15----------------------------------------------------
-12-13-15------------------------------------------------------------------

Look at the illustration below. These are the notes in the key of C major. Now locate the image above in the illustration below. The Phrygian mode in the key of C major is the E Phrygian. You can play the E Phrygian mode anywhere on the fretboard below, just start with the E note. The notes in the key of C major are: C D E F G A B

The notes of the E Phrygian mode would be the same, but starting with the E note. E F G A B C D. All the modes work the same way. Try to play this mode starting at the 2nd fret, look below and locate the E note 2nd fret.

Look at the image above and notice the E notes highlighted in red. Play this mode from E to E.

Take a look at the image below and notice the fingering pattern. Since this is one of the most popular positions to play this mode, I will concentrate on showing you it played starting at this position. But remember, this mode can be played in other positions. You just need to find an E at another location and play from E to E. Example, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E.

All of the modes in the Key of C major have the same notes. If you play from C to C you would be playing the C Ionian mode. If you played from D to D in C Major, you would be playing the Dorian mode. E to E is the Phrygian mode. Don't let all the names get you confused. Once you learn the Key of C, all the other Major keys will be a breeze to learn. Notice the E notes are highlighted in the image below.

To play this mode you would start at the 12th fret Low E string 1 finger. If you have a problem, please go back and review. Play this mode a few hundred times. Play this mode and all the others covered in the triplet form. 1,2,4, 2,4,1, 4,1,3, 1,3,4 3,4,1 and so on through the mode.

I don't want this to confuse you, but notice on the image above that you have an E minor root note fret, just like the A minor root note fret we learned at the 5th fret for A minor pentatonic. Soon you will see the big picture, that is if you haven't all ready. You can play Em pentatonic since it fits in above or you can play E Phrygian. Lay down the Em, B5, and C chords. Play E Phrygian and then Em pentatonic over the Em chord. Em pentatonic root note fret 12 fret, 1-4, 1-3, 1-3, 1-3, 1-4, 1-4. Play the same over the G chord or switch to E Aeolian. E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E, This is in the key of G major. Play Am pentatonic over the C, but at the 12th fret position. Recall the Am pentatonic position starting on the E note 12th fret. Play from C to C.

Here's another position to play the E Phrygian mode. This time you are using the open position.

Tablature below.

---------------------------------------------0-1-3--
------------------------------------0-1-3-----------
------------------------------0-2-------------------
--------------------0-2-3---------------------------
----------0-2-3-------------------------------------
-0-1-3----------------------------------------------

In the next lesson we will cover F to F in C Major. This is called the Lydian mode and it is a Major mode, since the F is a major chord.

Good luck,

From the Jam Room