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In this first part we'll be dealing with three of the diatonic modes: Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian. "Diatonic" just means that they share the same notes as the Major scale (which can also be considered a mode: Ionian). I suggest taking your time with each mode before jumping on to the next one. Too much information kills information! Once you start to feel comfortable with them you can mix them up and play one after the other to get a feeling for each of them.

I also strongly suggest recording yourself (or someone else) playing the different modes, and see if you can tell which mode is being played back...hearing is crucial!

Phrygian

Phrygian is one of the scales that differs the most from the basic major scale. For the moment you don't need to know that Phrygia was a kingdom of Anatolia or other interesting historical stuff. It should be mentioned, however, that Phrygian is the third mode (of the major scale; starting on the third scale degree of a major scale). Even though I've said it's necessary to see each mode as a separate entity, it is important to remember that these diatonic modes are related to each other.

The Phrygian mode has the following formula: 1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7, when compared to the starting pitch's major scale (e.g. E Phrygian compared to E major). It has a minor triad (chord) as its tonic (though cadences will often end on a major chord..., more on that below).

So E Phrygian is: E F G A B C D E (related to C Major)

Compare with E Major: E F# G# A B C# D# E

What you should try to hear, and keep in mind, is that the characteristic note (or interval) of Phrygian is especially the b2 (in this case, F) but also the b7 (D) and b3 (G, which makes it a "minor" mode). Try to get that sound in your ear. The b2 b3 b7 Phrygian flavor is quite easy to recognize. You might say it sounds spanish, or medieval, or gypsy, oriental...whatever! The thing is, you've heard this sound before, you recognize it and now you should try to recognize it every time you hear it and therefore see it for what it is: Phrygian.

Play around with the scale until it becomes familiar. Keep a low E drone going as you improvise with it, or try to find melodies. Then try going in and out of it by playing E major for a little while and then E Phrygian. Listen and "feel" how they differ...this is important. You need to get this sound into your ear and your musical vocabulary.

Progressions in E Phrygian

An important thing to note about Phrygian progressions is that they often end (cadence) or start on a major chord/triad. Since this major triad isn't in the mode itself (b3 becomes natural 3), if you're soloing you might have to alter that note, and this momentarily gives you another scale (a harmonic minor scale or what some people call a Phrygian dominant scale or Spanish gypsy scale). I won't go into this scale here, but it's a nice one to play around with (often heard in flamenco/Spanish style music).

Typical Chords:

Just as there are characteristic notes or intervals in each mode, there are also characteristic chords and chord progressions in each mode. In Phrygian the characteristic chord is, of course, the major flat II (F major chord in E Phrygian) and also the minor flat VII (D minor in E Phrygian). To a lesser extent the major flat III (G major in E Phrygian) and the minor IV (A minor in E Phrygian) are also quite characteristic when used in the same progression.

Some typical progressions in E Phrygian are:

A min - G - F - E(min or usually Maj)

E(min or usually Maj) - F(maj7) - E(min or usually Maj)

Dmin - E(min or usually Maj)

E Phrygian Example No.1

E Phrygian Example No.2

Pieces in Phrygian:

Pink Floyd - "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"

The "Ben-Hur Theme" (the melody is in Phrygian while the chords go in and out of Phrygian)

A lot of Flamenco/spanish music (though, as stated before, the cadences on the major Tonic (I chord) alter the scale and therefore it's not a pure Phrygian)

Led Zeppelin - "Kashmir": The end Progression (G min to A) is a typical Phrygian progression

Jefferson Airplane - "White Rabbit" (in E Phrygian except for the fleeting Bb chord)

Björk- "Hunter" (with major Tonic) and "I’ve seen it all"

Massive Attack - "Future Proof" (with major Tonic)