Film Scoring 101 - The Phrygian Mode

Film Scoring 101 - The Phrygian Mode

In this episode of Everything Music we discuss one of my favorite scales the Phrygian Mode. The Phrygian mode is the 3rd mode of the and has a dark, emotional sound. It's characteristic notes are the b2 and 5th.

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 or in the key of E Phrygian E F G A B C D

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[jamesonduncan]

Rick is so modest. He knows much but is always humble. He explains things in a way any level musician can understand. His love of music shines through every moment.

[codynunez]

I have a feeling these lessons are much deeper and give greater insight to Film Scoring than Hans Zimmer's Masterclass which seems to just blow smoke up your ass about pursuing your passion.

[xpicklepie]

I was wasted one night. I heard the Phrygian mode and sobered up instantly.

[rafaelmarmusic]

In Flamenco music we understand it as a fully developed tonal system over that tonic, in this case, E. This is some awesome analysis here.

[malinmizen]

It sounds “Spanish” because flamenco is fundamentally Phrygian . Check out Triana (group) for an absolutely mind blowing style where prog rock with flamenco. All thanks to Phrygian mode! You’ll like them!

[petragaffney]

Rick, your E Phrygian Étude is lovely. It makes me feel like I'm in Autumn. I like the superimposed slow motion video of Layla too.

[TakisMasterKey]

Keep it up Rick! Best channel in Youtube by far, such a wealth of knowledge and a spirit willing to share it all!

[subha]

thanks for sharing the knowledge...tough I am not a synth or keyboard player ...i am a guitarist by passion..black metal is one of my favorite genre...I love this scale...an ultimate scale to write songs on black metal and death metal...I like to call this 'scale of evils' rather than phrygian 🙂🙏🏻

[lurkerphoenix]

Channels like this one is what keeps my faith in youtube

[truefilm]

Awesome as always! The phrygian mode has that Indian-Arabesque flavor (IMHO) to it because you have half a step above the root and the same above the perfect fifth. A friend and colleague who is a lot into Indian (and Middle Eastern) music told me that there are actually two different intonations of the half step above the root and half step above the perfect fifth: when you hold it, it is slightly sharp compared to well-tempered (edit: I meant equal-tempered of course) - (I always noticed that BTW), and when it's a passing note down to the root or 5th it is slightly flat. That is within the context of a melody line over a bass pedal tone, not polyphonic. Just my usual ramblings ;-) Anyway: great stuff as always! Thanks for sharing!

[Bronco]

I love that Rick focuses so much on these modes. Maybe I've been living under a rock but I've been watching youtube/reading books and talking to music people about learning and understanding music for 10 years now and haven't even *heard* of the modes *at all* until now! What the heck!?!?

[KOLDBLUSTL]

Must be wonderful actually understanding music theory. 😕

[paulstanton]

Great! Yeah, 2 steps closer to understanding and being able to have fun with modes, b2 and 5th. Thanks

[WyattCayer]

Thank You so much for creating this channel! Now I don't need to spend thousands on music school just to be set back years financially and you know what they say, "time is money" especially in college. I'm working on a film right now and your channel is just great!

[marshallsweatherhiking]

The soundtrack to the movie Jacob's Ladder is memorable example of this I think. It's memorable in the way it seamlessly goes back and forth from a subdued "dark" sounding phrygian mode into a soaring ethereal "church melody" that sounds like it's in a nearby major scale to me. I don't understand music theory enough to describe it, but whatever technique that soundtrack uses, it creates a very intense emotional impact.

[asimnaveed]

very useful lesson Rick Bro... Well there is a scale in north indian Classical music "Thaat Bharavi" same as we call it phrygian mode in english music, and further it derive in raga Bharagi Bharavo... Beautiful sound.. i suggest if some day you do comparative analysis on North indian Classical scales, Ragas and western scales ..anyways im really thankful every time you post your videos

[bern]

This mode sound so evil, love it. Blows my mind it uses the same notes as a happy C mayor just for starting the scale in E.

[niggles]

Hi Rick. As much as I love your videos, I confess I can only watch a few minutes as I get a headache trying to understand what you're saying. I really do not know how you wrap your head round some of the theory. It's way beyond me. But I will keep watching. Even though I pick up no more than 1% of what you are saying, it's worth it! All the best.

[JulienRocker]

Wow, 2:44 is basically the intro of Bjork’s “Pagan Poetry”... I love how a music plays with modes, unusual time signatures, progression

[jazzatnight]

Very interesting mode that I have heard in John Abercrombie's compostions along with other jazz fusion artists of the 70's.