How To Play And Create Music Using The Phrygian Mode

by Simon Candy

In this video, you learn how to write chord progressions on guitar in the Phrygian mode. 

The Phrygian mode is one of the darker modes and has a mysterious, exotic sound to it. 

Despite it not being one of the more common modes such as Dorian or Mixolydian it can still be found in many songs and is a very cool sound to create on guitar.

In this lesson, I break down the Phrygian mode so you can easily understand it.

You then learn how to write chord progressions using the Phrygian mode targeting the all important characteristic note that makes the Phrygian sound what it is, as well as learn examples of actual songs that use the Phrygian mode so you can see it in action, including:

• Space Oddity - David Bowie
• London Calling - The Clash
• Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun - Pink Floyd

Watch the video below to learn more:

Phrygian Chord Progressions

The following are some examples of chord progressions written in the Phrygian mode. Watch the video above for detailed explanations and breakdowns of each example.

• Progression 1

The first example is a very common 2 chord vamp in E Phrygian:

• Progression 2

This second example is also in E Phrygian only adding some more chords from the key:

• Progression 3

Example 3 is yet again in E Phrygian only this time adding some extensions to the chords for a cool sound:

Phrygian Song Examples

The following are some examples of songs that use the Phrygian mode. Watch the video above for detailed explanations and breakdowns of each song example.

• Space Oddity: David Bowie

The introduction to “Space Oddity” by David Bowie is in the key of E Phrygian.

Notice the extension applied to the F chord for a very cool sound:

• London Calling: The Clash

“London Calling” by The Clash is a great example of a song in the key of E Phrygian. It begins with the classic i II chord progression using Em and F before bringing the III chord G into the mix:

Intro

Verse

Chorus

• Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun: Pink Floyd

“Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun” by Pink Floyd switches between E Phrygian and A Phrygian. It is quite common to switch modes mid song.

This song has a riff that is based on the progression that then transposes to A Phrygian before returning to E Phrygian again:

• Harvester Of Sorrow: Metallica

“Harvester Of Sorrow” by Metallica is another great example of a song in the ley of E Phrygian.

It also is based on a riff centred around the Em, F, G chord progression:

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