Phrygian vs Locrian
The C phrygian and the C locrian share 6 notes — C, Db, Eb, F, Ab, Bb. From there, the C phrygian adds G, while the C locrian adds Gb.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Phrygian and root of C Locrian), Db3 (flat 2 of C Phrygian and flat 2 of C Locrian), Eb3 (flat 3 of C Phrygian and flat 3 of C Locrian), F3 (4 of C Phrygian and 4 of C Locrian), Gb3 (flat 5), G3 (5), Ab3 (flat 6 of C Phrygian and flat 6 of C Locrian), Bb3 (flat 7 of C Phrygian and flat 7 of C Locrian), C4 (root of C Phrygian and root of C Locrian), Db4 (flat 2 of C Phrygian and flat 2 of C Locrian), Eb4 (flat 3 of C Phrygian and flat 3 of C Locrian), F4 (4 of C Phrygian and 4 of C Locrian), Gb4 (flat 5), G4 (5), Ab4 (flat 6 of C Phrygian and flat 6 of C Locrian), Bb4 (flat 7 of C Phrygian and flat 7 of C Locrian), C5 (root of C Phrygian and root of C Locrian).
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Phrygian | R · b2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · b7 |
| Locrian | R · b2 · b3 · 4 · b5 · b6 · b7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Phrygian | In Locrian |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| Db | b2 | b2 |
| Eb | b3 | b3 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| Ab | b6 | b6 |
| Bb | b7 | b7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the phrygian: G (5)
- Only in the locrian: Gb (b5)