A phrygian chords

The Solution below shows the A phrygian mode triad chords (i, II, III, iv, vo, VI, vii) on a piano, with mp3 and midi audio.

The Lesson steps then explain the triad chord construction from this mode, and how to name the quality of each chord based on note intervals.

For a quick summary of this topic, and to see the chord quality chart for this mode, have a look at Mode chord.

Keys in this mode
KeyCC#DbDD#EbEE#FbFF#GbGG#Ab[A]A#BbBB#Cb

Solution - 7 parts

1. A phrygian chord i

This step shows the tonic triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord i is the A minor chord, and contains the notes A, C, and E.

This tonic chord's root / starting note is the 1st note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 1 is 'i' and is used to indicate this is the 1st triad chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A phrygian chord 1 is A minor

Chord names for A phrygian chord 1
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionA minor chord in root positionia
1st inversionA minor chord in 1st inversionibi6
2nd inversionA minor chord in 2nd inversionici64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

2. A phrygian chord II

This step shows the supertonic triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord II is the Bb major chord, and contains the notes Bb, D, and F.

This supertonic chord's root / starting note is the 2nd note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 2 is 'II' and is used to indicate this is the 2nd triad chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

A phrygian chord 2 is B-flat major

Chord names for A phrygian chord 2
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionBb major chord in root positionIIa
1st inversionBb major chord in 1st inversionIIbII6
2nd inversionBb major chord in 2nd inversionIIcII64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

3. A phrygian chord III

This step shows the mediant triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord III is the C major chord, and contains the notes C, E, and G.

This mediant chord's root / starting note is the 3rd note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 3 is 'III' and is used to indicate this is the 3rd triad chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

A phrygian chord 3 is C major

Chord names for A phrygian chord 3
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionC major chord in root positionIIIa
1st inversionC major chord in 1st inversionIIIbIII6
2nd inversionC major chord in 2nd inversionIIIcIII64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

4. A phrygian chord iv

This step shows the subdominant triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord iv is the D minor chord, and contains the notes D, F, and A.

This subdominant chord's root / starting note is the 4th note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 4 is 'iv' and is used to indicate this is the 4th triad chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A phrygian chord 4 is D minor

Chord names for A phrygian chord 4
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionD minor chord in root positioniva
1st inversionD minor chord in 1st inversionivbiv6
2nd inversionD minor chord in 2nd inversionivciv64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

5. A phrygian chord vo

This step shows the dominant triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord vo is the E diminished chord, and contains the notes E, G, and Bb.

This dominant chord's root / starting note is the 5th note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 5 is 'v' and is used to indicate this is the 5th triad chord in the mode. Just like a minor chord, the diminished chord is constructed using a minor third interval, so the roman numeral is shown in lower case.

The diminished symbol 'o' is placed after the roman numerals to indicate this is a diminished chord.

A phrygian chord 5 is E diminished

Chord names for A phrygian chord 5
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionE diminished chord in root positionvoa
1st inversionE diminished chord in 1st inversionvobvo6
2nd inversionE diminished chord in 2nd inversionvocvo64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

6. A phrygian chord VI

This step shows the submediant triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord VI is the F major chord, and contains the notes F, A, and C.

This submediant chord's root / starting note is the 6th note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 6 is 'VI' and is used to indicate this is the 6th triad chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

A phrygian chord 6 is F major

Chord names for A phrygian chord 6
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionF major chord in root positionVIa
1st inversionF major chord in 1st inversionVIbVI6
2nd inversionF major chord in 2nd inversionVIcVI64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

7. A phrygian chord vii

This step shows the subtonic triad chord of the A phrygian mode.

Chord identification

The A phrygian chord vii is the G minor chord, and contains the notes G, Bb, and D.

This subtonic chord's root / starting note is the 7th note (or scale degree) of the A phrygian mode.

The roman numeral for number 7 is 'vii' and is used to indicate this is the 7th triad chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

A phrygian chord 7 is G minor

Chord names for A phrygian chord 7
Chord positionLinka/b/c notationFigured bass notation
Root positionG minor chord in root positionviia
1st inversionG minor chord in 1st inversionviibvii6
2nd inversionG minor chord in 2nd inversionviicvii64
bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

Lesson steps

1. Piano key note names

This step shows the white and black note names on a piano keyboard so that the note names are familiar for later steps, and to show that the note names start repeating themselves after 12 notes.

The white keys are named using the alphabetic letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which is a pattern that repeats up the piano keyboard.

Every white or black key could have a flat(b) or sharp(#) accidental name, depending on how that note is used. In a later step, if sharp or flat notes are used, the exact accidental names will be chosen.

Sharp and flat note names

The audio files below play every note shown on the piano above, so middle C (marked with an orange line at the bottom) is the 2nd note heard.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

2. A phrygian mode notes

This step shows the mode note names that will be used to construct all triad chords that harmonize with those mode notes.

The piano keyboard below contains the notes of the A phrygian mode.

Starting from the 1st mode note, each lesson step below will take each note in turn and construct a triad chord using that note as the root / starting note of that chord.

The triad chord will be built using only the notes of the mode we are interested in.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

Triad chords are built using the 1st, 3rdand 5th notes of the mode, so the first triad below will constructed a chord using notes A, C and E.

A phrygian mode
No.12345678
NoteABbCDEFGA

The second triad below will repeat this, but this time starting on the 2nd note, so its notes will be Bb, D and F - ie. the 1st, 3rd and 5th positions relative to that 2nd root note.

This pattern is repeated for all 7 notes in the mode, resulting in 7 triad chords.

A phrygian mode

Identifying the chord quality

Although the above method identifies each triads notes from the mode used - it does not identify the complete chord name including its quality.

Should each triad that we build be called major, minor, augmented, or diminished ? Every triad chord must have one of these quality names.

To decide the name the chord quality, each step below will use note intervals to calculate how many half-tones / semitones / piano keys between the root and the 3rd (and 5th).

Taken together, the combination of the 3rd and 5th note intervals will define the complete triad quality name.

The steps below will show how this works for each triad in turn, but in practice it might just be easier to memorize the triad quality table in the Mode chord summary for each mode type.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

3. 1st triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 1st scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 1st note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes A, C, and E.

A phrygian mode from note #1
No.1234567
NoteABbCDEFG

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between A and C is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at A-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between A and E is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at A-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having minor(m3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is minor.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, A, onto this quality, giving us the A minor chord.

A minor triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol i could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is A minor chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord ia.

Instead, i could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is A minor chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord ib.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is A minor chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord ic.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols i:

So in this key, i6 refers to the A minor chord in 1st inversion, and i64 refers to the A minor chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, A, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

4. 2nd triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 2nd scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 2nd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Bb, D, and F.

A phrygian mode from note #2
No.1234567
NoteBbCDEFGA

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Bb and D is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Bb-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Bb and F is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Bb-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having major(M3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is major.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, Bb, onto this quality, giving us the Bb major chord.

B-flat major triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol II could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Bb major chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord IIa.

Instead, II could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Bb major chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord IIb.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is Bb major chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord IIc.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols II:

So in this key, II6 refers to the Bb major chord in 1st inversion, and II64 refers to the Bb major chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Bb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

5. 3rd triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 3rd scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 3rd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes C, E, and G.

A phrygian mode from note #3
No.1234567
NoteCDEFGABb

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between C and E is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at C-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between C and G is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at C-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having major(M3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is major.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, C, onto this quality, giving us the C major chord.

C major triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol III could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is C major chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord IIIa.

Instead, III could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is C major chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord IIIb.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is C major chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord IIIc.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols III:

So in this key, III6 refers to the C major chord in 1st inversion, and III64 refers to the C major chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, C, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

6. 4th triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 4th scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 4th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes D, F, and A.

A phrygian mode from note #4
No.1234567
NoteDEFGABbC

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between D and F is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at D-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between D and A is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at D-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having minor(m3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is minor.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, D, onto this quality, giving us the D minor chord.

D minor triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol iv could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is D minor chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord iva.

Instead, iv could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is D minor chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord ivb.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is D minor chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord ivc.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols iv:

So in this key, iv6 refers to the D minor chord in 1st inversion, and iv64 refers to the D minor chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, D, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

7. 5th triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 5th scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 5th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes E, G, and Bb.

A phrygian mode from note #5
No.1234567
NoteEFGABbCD

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between E and G is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at E-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between E and Bb is 6 half-tones, and the note interval name is diminished (d5). More details of this interval are at E-dim-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having minor(m3) and diminished(d5) note intervals is diminished.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, E, onto this quality, giving us the E diminished chord.

E diminished triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol vo could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is E diminished chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord voa.

Instead, vo could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is E diminished chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord vob.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is E diminished chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord voc.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols vo:

So in this key, vo6 refers to the E diminished chord in 1st inversion, and vo64 refers to the E diminished chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, E, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

8. 6th triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 6th scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 6th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes F, A, and C.

A phrygian mode from note #6
No.1234567
NoteFGABbCDE

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between F and A is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at F-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between F and C is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at F-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having major(M3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is major.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, F, onto this quality, giving us the F major chord.

F major triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol VI could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is F major chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord VIa.

Instead, VI could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is F major chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord VIb.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is F major chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord VIc.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols VI:

So in this key, VI6 refers to the F major chord in 1st inversion, and VI64 refers to the F major chord in 2nd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the triad chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, F, will be moved to the final column of the table.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

9. 7th triad chord in A phrygian mode

This step shows how to identify the notes and the name of a triad chord whose root note is the 7th scale degree of the A phrygian mode.

Identifying the 3 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A phrygian mode, ordered to show the 7th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the triad chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th columns / scale degrees, which are notes G, Bb, and D.

A phrygian mode from note #7
No.1234567
NoteGABbCDEF

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the triad chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd Interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between G and Bb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at G-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between G and D is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at G-perf-5th.

Finally, we have the name of the two note intervals of this triad, and can now lookup the name of the triad chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Triad chord table, the name of the triad chord quality having minor(m3) and perfect(P5) note intervals is minor.

And so the complete triad chord name prefixes the root note, G, onto this quality, giving us the G minor chord.

G minor triad chord

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol vii could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is G minor chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A phrygian mode chord viia.

Instead, vii could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is G minor chord in 1st inversion - A phrygian mode chord viib.

Finally, letter c could be used to indicate that it is G minor chord in 2nd inversion - A phrygian mode chord viic.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the b or c symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate inversions after the chord number symbols vii:

So in this key, vii6 refers to the G minor chord in 1st inversion, and vii64 refers to the G minor chord in 2nd inversion.

This completes the set of all triad chords that harmonize with the A phrygian mode.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

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