E♭ Phrygian Mode

Notes in the E♭ Phrygian Mode

Interval Pattern

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Key Signature

3 ♭ — The E♭ key signature uses B♭, E♭, A♭.

E♭ Phrygian Mode in Practice

The E♭ Phrygian Mode uses the key signature of 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭). Eb major has three flats and a rich, full sound well suited to brass instruments. It is widely used in jazz, classical music, and is the home key for Eb instruments. On guitar, E♭ 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. When played starting on E♭, the 7 notes are E♭, E, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. In this key the signature has 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭). Eb is the concert key for alto saxophone and baritone saxophone playing in their native C, and it is a staple of big band and jazz ensemble writing. Eb is heavily used in R&B, soul, and gospel music, where horn sections in Bb and Eb instruments can play without difficult transpositions.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Related Scales

Transposing Instruments: E♭ Phrygian Mode

E♭ 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 E♭ concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in E♭ sound a major sixth lower.