A♭ Phrygian Mode
Notes in the A♭ Phrygian Mode
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A♭ | 415.305 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | C♭ | 493.883 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | D♭ | 277.183 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | E♭ | 311.127 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | F♭ | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | G♭ | 369.994 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A♭ | A |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | C♭ |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C♭ | D♭ |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D♭ | E♭ |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E♭ | F♭ |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F♭ | G♭ |
| 7 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G♭ | A♭ |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | A♭ minor | minor |
| ♭2 | A | A | major |
| ♭3 | C♭ | C♭ | major |
| 4 | D♭ | D♭ minor | minor |
| 5 | E♭ | E♭ diminished | diminished |
| ♭6 | F♭ | F♭ | major |
| ♭7 | G♭ | G♭ minor | minor |
Key Signature
4 ♭ — The A♭ key signature uses B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.
A♭ Phrygian Mode in Practice
The A♭ Phrygian Mode uses the key signature of 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, A♭ positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The Phrygian mode has a dark, exotic quality due to its flat 2nd degree. It is characteristic of Spanish flamenco music and heavy metal, creating an intense, mysterious atmosphere.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♭ | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C♭ | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| D♭ | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| E♭ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F♭ | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| G♭ | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: A♭ Phrygian Mode
A♭ is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce A♭ concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in A♭ sound a major sixth lower.