Phrygian and Lydian comparison
The Phrygian mode compared to the Lydian mode with diagrams and explanation.
The Phrygian and the Lydian modes are seven-note scales. The scales are similar pattern-wise, but five tone differs (as seen in the comparing tables below). Phrygian is minor sounding with a minor 2nd whereas Lydian is major sounding with a raised 4th.
A Phrygian scale degrees and notes.
| 1 | b2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Bb | C | D | E | F | G |
A Lydian scale degrees and notes.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4# | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# |
Notes of the Phrygian and the Lydian mode in all keys.
| Scale | 1 | b2 / 2 | b3 / 3 | 4 / 4# | 5 | b6 / 6 | b7 / 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Phrygian | C | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb |
| C Lydian | C | D | E | F# | G | A | B |
| C# Phrygian | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A | B |
| C# Lydian | C# | D# | E# | F## | G# | A# | B# |
| D Phrygian | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb | C |
| D Lydian | D | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# |
| Eb Phrygian | Eb | Fb | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db |
| Eb Lydian | Eb | F | G | A | Bb | C | D |
| E Phrygian | E | F | G | A | B | C | D |
| E Lydian | E | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# |
| F Phrygian | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb |
| F Lydian | F | G | A | B | C | D | E |
| F# Phrygian | F# | G | A | B | C# | D | E |
| F# Lydian | F# | G# | A# | B# | C# | D# | E# |
| G Phrygian | G | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb | F |
| G Lydian | G | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
| Ab Phrygian | Ab | Bbb | Cb | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb |
| Ab Lydian | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G |
| A Phrygian | A | Bb | C | D | E | F | G |
| A Lydian | A | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# |
| Bb Phrygian | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab |
| Bb Lydian | Bb | C | D | E | F | G | A |
| B Phrygian | B | C | D | E | F# | G | A |
| B Lydian | B | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# |
Notice that C# is the same as Db, D# is the same as Eb and so on.
Scale diagrams
The scale diagrams show A Phrygian and A Lydian in two octaves (shape 1 in 5th position), with the root notes in darker color.
A Phrygian
A Lydian
Scale box relationships
A Phrygian is identical (besides the root notes) with Bb Lydian as box patterns, as seen below in 5th position.
A Phrygian (shape 1)
Bb Lydian (shape 4)
