Phrygian — a regular diatonic heptatonality
Harmonic visuals
Scale and sound samples
You may enjoy a sound sample or tonality loop as sound mantra for contemplation or meditation, for upliftment and focusing, or simply as soothing background sound for relaxation and regeneration.
Characteristics
- Diatonic tonality matrix: The octave includes five whole steps and two half steps (or semitones). Either two or three consecutive whole steps, a pair and a trio, alternate in separating the two individual half steps from each other.
- Step pattern: Ascending from the fundamental (tonic or Do), Phrygian begins with a half step that leads to the trio of whole steps. Then follows the second half step; and the pair of whole steps leads up to the octave.
- Scale intervals: Minor second, minor third, quart, quint, minor sixth, and minor seventh.
- Penta- and tetrachords: The lower pentachord is Phrygian and the upper tetrachord is PhrygAeolian.
- Harmonic axes: There is one axis, which is NE-SW.
- Primary harmonic anchors: The fundamental or North anchor as well as the East anchor are both fully present. The contrast or South anchor is incomplete with only its right leg and no head. The West anchor is completely absent.
- Secondary harmonic anchors: Three secondary anchors are present: SE, WS, and WN. All of them emphasize the East anchor. Two of them give some more weight to the fundamental or North anchor — especially to the quart. One strengthens the contrast or South anchor.
- The initial half step or minor second: The harmonically least anchored pitch is the initial half step or minor second, which is key to providing the distinctly Phrygian regressive quality and minor flavor.
- Piano keyboard reference: Phrygian corresponds to the white keys with E as fundamental.
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