How To Use The Phrygian Mode - Playing With Modes #6

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Today's featured mode in our modal series is the Phrygian mode.

Phrygian is a minor mode because it has a minor third. The formula of the Phrygian mode goes: root, minor second, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor sixth and minor seventh.

I think Lydian and Phrygian have some things in common in the sense that they have kind of an exotic sound.

As we did with Aeolian and Dorian we can associate a minor pentatonic scale with the Phrygian mode. What that means is that you are just two notes away from the Phrygian scale. The missing notes are the second and the sixth. You can easily combine your pentatonic licks with the sound of the Phrygian mode by adding these notes.

Finally, we will use the concept of relative arpeggios. For example, the Lydian arpeggio sounds really great over our Phrygian backing track.

Recommended playlists

►How to Play Melodic
►How to Use Guitar Modes
►How to Play Blues

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[risingforce]

Your lessons are amazing, you have a natural ability to teach in an engaging and informative way. I've struggled with Theory my entire playing life - 40+ years! But, I'm finally beginning to see how all the modes work together now - thanks to you!

[BigMikeGuitar]

David Wallimann might be the best teacher on the internet - and that's saying something!

[minkorrh]

Learn the sound (phrygian, lydian, major, minor, mixo, etc.) and play it out of your head. It's very satisfying having your fingers just 'go where they know the notes are', and easy to transpose to other keys. I've got to the point where I actually hear the notes I want before I play them. Yes, it takes a while, and you may become better musicians following the normal course and paying attention to theory. I think I have developed what's called 'relative pitch', at least in the scale sense where I know the tone of the scale before I play it.

[jimbo]

Been scraping the net for years for lessons - David you really know how to explain this shit.

[GAR]

This video series is very helpful and I have to watch each one twice, things take a while to sink in here! Thanks David

[johnhunter]

Thanks for explaining how to transition from the minor sixth. Good lesson David!

[rcjward]

David, your teaching method is excellent! Thanks for sharing your knowledge in such thoughtful manner!

[edwardzeigler]

I really liked how you connected the Phrygian and Lydian to minor pentatonic. liked and subbed.

[pandoypenduko]

Thank you for the free lessons on YouTube sir!

[RonClemens]

I like the sound of that relative Lydian arpeggio (AbM7) in the (G) Phrygian context - sounds Zappa-ish.

[Kasperband]

Great lesson, but I think it would have helped me a little more if you mention the chords used in the backing track, that’s where it gets tricky for me because I can figure out the intervals but not as easy the relative chords, Thx

[WuzzupDoc]

I love these modal lessons lately :) it is right where I am in my studies . Am I wrong to be practicing all my modes in just one key to get the concept and feel and difference of each one ? And than noticing the differences and exploiting those to get the flavour of each . I like the intervalic thought process of relating them all to a home pentatonic :)

[righteousrat]

Hey! I recognize you from vocal lessons videos with Chris Liepe!!

[MykTV_Michael_Zafra]

Thanks for the lesson! Really helpful :)

[jerrywilson]

Excellent lesson! Thank you sir. Will that concept work with Lydian and Mixolydian? If in a Lydian progression, moving up two frets and playing Mixolydian?

[CarlWinter-oyuf]

Please help me to find the elusive A MINOR PHRYGIAN MODE--Do you know how to find this scale /mode ? I am getting tired of searching !

[keithagnew]

Hi David, I can't seem to put my pass word into the field . Can you help?

[learningthelife]

Your lessons are like drug...the more you watch them the more you get addicted to it...but in a better way

[tomta]

Question...would a minor 7th, be the same as a flat 7th?

[davemorton]

Dam i finally get it. Dam im good. Thanks D.W.