Part 11: Modes with an audible reason · Lesson 105 / 117
Optional colour: Phrygian lowers the second
Optional extensionCompare E natural minor and E Phrygian around E.
E natural minor is E–F#–G–A–B–C–D. E Phrygian lowers F# to F: E–F–G–A–B–C–D. Its formula is 1–b2–b3–4–5–b6–b7.
The tonic triad remains Em, E–G–B. The lowered second F sits a semitone above E. Compare E–F#–E with E–F–E against an E-centred reference.
The small upper-neighbour movement F–E makes the changed degree easy to hear. It is not necessary to cover a whole-neck Phrygian pattern. Stay in a compact area and keep E clearly supported as home.
Do not confuse this standard Phrygian pattern with Phrygian dominant, which has a major third. That is a separate extension beyond the present course's core. Here G remains the minor third above E.
Hear it
Phrygian
Audio fileFour-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.
A concrete example
E natural minor: F# as degree 2. E Phrygian: F as b2. G remains b3 in both.
Try it, slowly
- Play both second-to-tonic comparisons.
- Play G–F–E, ending clearly on E.
- Name the changed note and the unchanged minor third.
Check one idea
Does E Phrygian contain G#?
Show the explanation
No. This mode has G, the minor third above E. G# would change the mode's interval structure.
A good place to stop
You can isolate the lowered second while keeping the minor tonic clear.
Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.