How to Play an E Phrygian Scale on Piano

Learning to play an E Phrygian scale is not all that difficult if you have experience with a C major scale, which is the most basic of all scales on the piano. E Phrygian is the third mode of C major and thus has a key signature of no flats and no sharps. The scale has only white keys so practice should be given to speed and accuracy, as the white keys offer the widest surface area for your fingers to touch. The E Phrygian scale sounds somewhat similar to a natural minor scale but has the added dark quality that comes from the minor ninth.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Practice with your right hand to begin. Place your thumb on E4. Ascend a minor third interval through E, F and G natural. Be careful not to let your wrist fall too closely to the keyboard. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to A5. Ascend the last perfect fifth interval of the scale through A, B, C, D and E natural. Your pinkie finger should land on E5 to end the scale, one octave higher than E4.

2. Descend the E Phrygian scale with your right hand. Come down a perfect fifth interval before crossing fingers through E, D, C, B and A. Cross your middle finger over your thumb at G4. Descend the final minor third interval of the scale through G, F and E natural. Your thumb should land on E4 to finish the scale.

3. Practice with your left hand only. Place your pinkie finger on E3. Ascend a perfect fifth interval through E, F, G, A and B natural. Cross your middle finger over your thumb to C4. Ascend the remaining major third interval through C, D and E natural. Your thumb should be last to land on E4, one octave higher than where you began.

4. Descend the E Phrygian scale with your left hand a major third interval through the notes E, D and C natural. Bring your thumb under your middle finger to B4. Descend the final perfect fifth interval of the scale through B, A, G, F and E natural. Your pinkie finger should be the last to depress E3, the original starting pitch.

5. Practice the scale with both hands at the same time. The initial finger crossing as you ascend is different for each hand so take the tempo rather slowly to begin. Set your metronome to no more than 70 beats per minute. As the finger crossings become more natural, increase the tempo to no more than 180 beats per minute.