Songs that use the Phrygian mode

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  • čas pƙidĂĄn 3. 06. 2024
  • Phrygian has a sound much like the minor scale but with a darker edge. A common choice in metal, prog and hip-hop, Phrygian introduces an exotic, unnerving sound to a song's tonality. Today we're going to look at some examples of the phrygian mode in action and also look at some similar scales including the Double Harmonic scale and Phrygian Dominant.
    📍 CORRECTION 1: at 4:45 the sheet music for “Milkshake” should show three Ds before descending to C#, not just one! Sorry about that and thanks to Asle Fjeldstad for bringing it to my attention.
    📍 CORRECTION 2: at 11:05 I said that "Misirlou" started as an Arabic folk song, but in fact it seems it was Greek. Thanks to Theo Querel for bringing that to my attention.
    SOURCES:
    Phrygian mode in Kendrick’s “HUMBLE”: ‱ The Phrygian Mode in K...
    Early version of “Misirlou”: ‱ The original Misirlou ...
    12 tone analysing “White Rabbit”: ‱ Understanding White Ra...
    Listening In analysing “Pyramid Song”: ‱ Radiohead: Pyramid Son...
    Stream my EP "The Longest March" at Spotify: sptfy.com/davidbennett
    or download it at Bandcamp: davidbennettpiano.bandcamp.com/
    And, an extra special thanks goes to Vidad Flowers, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
    SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano đŸŽč
    0:00 What does Phrygian sound like?
    1:00 Metal
    3:00 Hip hop
    5:00 Phrygian is a mode
    6:28 Modal mixture
    8:19 Phrygian's "middle eastern" sound
    11:00 Phrygian dominant
    13:00 Modal ambiguity
    15:05 Piano outro

Komentáƙe • 1,8K

  • @DavidBennettPiano
    @DavidBennettPiano  Pƙed 3 lety +142

    What's your favourite example of a song using the Phrygian mode?

    • @Sir99percent
      @Sir99percent Pƙed 3 lety +3

      It's such a terrible shame that so many vpn providers use these atrocious rebate traps, where they'll give you a seemingly huge discount for multiple year plans "but only if you subscribe within the next 30 or so minutes". And, surprise surprise, when the time is up, the offer just keeps renewing over and over and over. In fact what is advertised as a limited time offer usually is available permanently, maybe with a slight variation in the percentage at most. This type of bait absolutely sickens me and I will never, ever purchase anything from a company that uses this type of strategy and would advise others to do the same.
      I get that people need to be able to provide for themselves but is it really necessary to sell your soul like that? :/

    • @anshulanilgaur1118
      @anshulanilgaur1118 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      Another awesome video!! I would also like to know that what are your thoughts on "Like a Prayer" by Madonna, do you like the song?? Thanks

    • @Metalbass10000
      @Metalbass10000 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      Without a doubt Phrygian, as it is not major feeling/sounding at all, to my ear.

    • @joannpelas5101
      @joannpelas5101 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      I heard C phrygian. The a flat sounded off to me.

    • @sandropotter7416
      @sandropotter7416 Pƙed 2 lety

      DO YOU THINK "REQUIEM PARA MATRAGA", FROM GERALDO VANDRÉ, IS IN A PHRYGIAN?

  • @14shyuga14
    @14shyuga14 Pƙed 3 lety +730

    Crazy thing, back in 2000s I used to listen to hip hop, but once it got more into electro, I began listening to metal, because metal had the sound I wanted. Now I know the sound I wanted was the phrygian

    • @erk9822
      @erk9822 Pƙed 3 lety +23

      This makes me wonder what sound I’m trying to find, I listen to pretty much everything

    • @aquilesbailo4226
      @aquilesbailo4226 Pƙed 3 lety +7

      @Lex Baker well its very rare to hear locrian cause the tonic chord is a minor dim5th and its sounds like flames pain and hell xd but also cool for some ears

    • @JeighNeither
      @JeighNeither Pƙed 3 lety +7

      There is plenty of Phrygian in Electronica, & trip hop, you just have to know what to listen to. Tool has definitely built a career of Phrygian ha. If that's what you like, then maybe start listening to more music from Central Asia and the Middle East.

    • @immortaluglyfish2724
      @immortaluglyfish2724 Pƙed 3 lety +17

      You wanted that phrygian phlavor.

    • @Moon0525_
      @Moon0525_ Pƙed 2 lety +10

      My love of Pagan folk, Middle Eastern and Romani music, and White Rabbit explains.... A lot lol
      But interestingly I'm a huge classic rock lover which is hugely dominated by Mixolydian; he quoted Cars by Numan, too, which is a huge love of mine. So without knowing what I've done, I've been seeking out Phrygian/Mixolydian songs just by enjoying them

  • @reginaldperiwinkle
    @reginaldperiwinkle Pƙed 3 lety +2681

    So from this I conclude that the Beatles never had a song that used Phrygian.

    • @ale14zoppi
      @ale14zoppi Pƙed 3 lety +48

      Exact, lol

    • @KingoftheJuice18
      @KingoftheJuice18 Pƙed 3 lety +391

      Maybe they did, but David just didn't incl---oh right

    • @edmtheorist
      @edmtheorist Pƙed 3 lety +10

      đŸ€Ł

    • @kelprofitt
      @kelprofitt Pƙed 3 lety +75

      I tried so hard to think of an example, but I genuinely can’t. You might be right.

    • @llamasarus1
      @llamasarus1 Pƙed 3 lety +38

      Do they have anything in Lydian even?

  • @behrangfarshid
    @behrangfarshid Pƙed 2 lety +61

    About that peace of music you wrote :
    In Persian Music we have exactly this mode, called (Dashti in Shour)
    Interesting point :
    If you change the G to G# and play the E chord Major instead Minor, The name of the Scale and its rules will be completely changed and it will become to another mode, called (Shoushtari in Homayoun)

  • @nooneknows9218
    @nooneknows9218 Pƙed rokem +57

    16:01 I also hear this song as C Phrygian. For some reason, to me it always sounded like C in a “dark” mode, and C Phrygian definitely makes a lot of sense!

    • @vedranb87
      @vedranb87 Pƙed 6 měsĂ­ci

      I concur with C Phrygian

    • @Draber2b
      @Draber2b Pƙed 4 měsĂ­ci

      To me it sounded kind of like phrygian, but very bright. It's apparent there is a flat second. A bit too resolved: I wouldn't guess either major or phrygian.
      If I didn't knew the answer phrygian wouldn't be my guess, but some scale of the major family. (That being said I barely have good tonal hearing)
      At the end the C drone is far more convincing to me than thr bA drone.

  • @jamesdalziel4516
    @jamesdalziel4516 Pƙed 3 lety +635

    "A mode is when you take a scale... but treat a different note as the tonic". Aaaaaand the use and purpose of modes finally falls into place. Someone said it elsewhere in the comments, but undoubtedly the best music-related channel on CZcams. Really great stuff, David. Thanks so much.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  Pƙed 3 lety +48

      Thanks Jamie! 😀

    • @EnterJustice
      @EnterJustice Pƙed 2 lety +13

      This concept really unlocked music for me. It's all about things relate to each other. Rhythm, harmony, melody...

    • @ZZubZZero
      @ZZubZZero Pƙed 2 lety +3

      Yeah indeed! I never really got modes until that!

    • @datavalisofficial8730
      @datavalisofficial8730 Pƙed 2 lety

      I came from 4chan, theres a music board there called /mu some ppl were talking about good music youtubers and he was mentioned a lot

    • @CrowdContr0l
      @CrowdContr0l Pƙed 2 lety +3

      Wait until you realize the way the modes were derived
 by counting black keys.

  • @WesCoastPiano
    @WesCoastPiano Pƙed 3 lety +447

    This is by far the best music channel on CZcams. Great work.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  Pƙed 3 lety +43

      Thank you! 😃😃

    • @niloc5533
      @niloc5533 Pƙed 3 lety +1

      I think sammy g is on the same level but theyre at the top both

    • @Henry-uv9xu
      @Henry-uv9xu Pƙed 3 lety +18

      Rick Beato

    • @videosefilmes22
      @videosefilmes22 Pƙed 3 lety +7

      @@Henry-uv9xu Rick has too much boomer energy

    • @kaimundo
      @kaimundo Pƙed 3 lety +10

      adam neely and charles cornell are fire too

  • @AFDO5310
    @AFDO5310 Pƙed 3 lety +122

    What a great video! However, it kinda upsets me when musicians ignore Flamenco when it relies almost solely on Phrygian mode and yet no one ever talks about it. The two main styles (that I know so far) are "Por Medio" and "Por Arriba". Por Medio ("from the middle") relies on A phrygian which can be easily arranged on the top 5 strings of a guitar (A-D-G-B-E), while Por Arriba ("from above") uses all 6 strings of a guitar and relies on the E Phrygian scale. Certain sub-styles of Flamenco also characterized on "Por Medio" or "Por Arriba". Tangos and Bulerias use Por Medio, while Soleas and Fandangos use "Por Arriba".

    • @Anarchaoist
      @Anarchaoist Pƙed rokem +4

      I was just about to say the same thing...

    • @prometheus6474
      @prometheus6474 Pƙed 19 dny +2

      flamenco is rad. always liked it

  • @kineticwaves532
    @kineticwaves532 Pƙed 2 lety +197

    Phrygian and Lydian are my favorite modes. I like the mysteriousness and desert feel of Phrygian (a lot of rock and metal songs seem to use it) and the spacey psychedelic feel of Lydian. I would love to find new music in both of these scales.

    • @huzrokhayzur2197
      @huzrokhayzur2197 Pƙed rokem +5

      i'm pretty sure you know KGALW but in case i suggest you to check that if you like exotic psychedelic music and microtonality

    • @thenamelessdragonfish
      @thenamelessdragonfish Pƙed rokem +5

      I like Locrian.

    • @juliehirsh1436
      @juliehirsh1436 Pƙed rokem +2

      Check out Sam Smith unholy

    • @joshforest304
      @joshforest304 Pƙed rokem

      Same.

    • @joshforest304
      @joshforest304 Pƙed rokem +2

      ​@@juliehirsh1436too obvious and gimmicky for me. Really taking the exotic sound to make it sound dark n sleazy. Very catchy though😂

  • @hampusheh
    @hampusheh Pƙed 3 lety +177

    You're so right about that hip-hop sound, I hadn't thought about how "phrygian" that sound was. But it was so ubiquitous during that era of rap.

    • @victoresquivel8546
      @victoresquivel8546 Pƙed 2 lety +4

      I think of Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio

    • @StratsRUs
      @StratsRUs Pƙed rokem

      @@victoresquivel8546 Stevie Wonder

    • @brown9671
      @brown9671 Pƙed rokem

      @@StratsRUs Stevie isnt rap

    • @hoidoei941
      @hoidoei941 Pƙed 11 měsĂ­ci +5

      For me Phrygian immediately screams metal ethnic/arab or flamenco music, not hiphop in particular. Therefor hiphop has way too much variety of sample use. (Note that his examples were mostly from “arabian”samples) Hiphop can be anything with a beat

  • @kevinnguyen552
    @kevinnguyen552 Pƙed 3 lety +841

    How much Phrygian do you want?
    Metal and flamenco songs:
    *yes*

    • @koffieverslaafde627
      @koffieverslaafde627 Pƙed 3 lety +24

      Phrygian dominant is used a lot too in metal, Nile kinda loves it a bit too much and so do I

    • @jessevandendoren
      @jessevandendoren Pƙed 3 lety +15

      Phrygian dominant is also called 'Spanish Phrygian' for a reason.

    • @ephraimpinckney8209
      @ephraimpinckney8209 Pƙed 3 lety +6

      @@jessevandendoren Spanish phrygian has a minor and major third.

    • @murk4552
      @murk4552 Pƙed 3 lety +12

      @@jessevandendoren because the Spanish got it from the Moors who invaded Andalusia at the time. They imparted their Mesopotamian influences over there and now we associate one half of Spanish music with that tradition. Regular Phrygian is traditionally not Middle Eastern due to the minor third inherent in it. You'll even find that in ancient Mesoamerican cultures - today known as Mexico, Central America and South America. Whether or not Phrygian is of Spanish or Central/South American origin remains to be debated. For the version you're talking about In reality it's called the "Jewish" of "Freygish" (Hebrew for "Phrygian") scale, it's popularly most recognized in "Hava Nagila".
      It's Iranian half is called "Harmonic Minor", which derives from the same scale. In Jazz we use Phrygian Dominant, to play over V chords. It's to go where the VII is Full Diminished and resolves to the I which is Minor. Using it that way creates a powerfully dark, but mystical finish to music.

    • @rubenvela44
      @rubenvela44 Pƙed 3 lety

      Jazz songs yes three my song Rhombus is in Phrygian Mode

  • @GuiSmith
    @GuiSmith Pƙed 3 lety +28

    Phrygian is also used really nicely in the Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s present in songs for the character Sally and her interactions with Jack Skellington. Specifically Sally’s Song uses Phrygian. Although if I recall it’s primarily minor harmonies, but Sally’s vocals are Phrygian and use the unusual note to end every other line. It’s beautifully ethereal. Locative is also used at times, so it’s a lovely display of Danny Elfman’s music skills.

  • @BertoBoyd
    @BertoBoyd Pƙed 2 lety +24

    I’m a Flamenco guitarist and composer and really enjoyed your video on Phrygian which is the home of 90% of my compositions. I’ve always called your Phrygian Dominant/Major - “Altered Phrygian” due to the #3 in our I Chord example E7(b9) I think of it being a borrowed #7 of the relative A harmonic minor so when you Go to build the E chord, it becomes Major instead of minor with the added b9. Anyways, I love this theory geek out stuff. Nice job!

  • @Bachini
    @Bachini Pƙed 3 lety +661

    New Person, Same Old Mistakes = C Phrygian for me. For sure.

  • @memogon00
    @memogon00 Pƙed 3 lety +135

    13:00 It took you very long this time to get to the Radiohead example of the video hahahaha

    • @adaddinsane
      @adaddinsane Pƙed 3 lety +11

      Yup - I was "Where's the Radiohead example?"

    • @sasukesarutobi3862
      @sasukesarutobi3862 Pƙed 2 lety +3

      That's because it's not just basic Phrygian mode for them - it's of course more complex than that

  • @charlie_3370
    @charlie_3370 Pƙed 2 lety +17

    This video made me realize that Frozen by Madonna may use Phrygian during the chorus and outro. The key of the song is in Fm (ionian) but in the 7th bar of the chorus the song plays a Gb chord followed by an Absus4 before returning to the tonic where she sings G naturals again. I’ve always wondered what to call that pattern, the song also blends Indian/Moroccan influences with electronica.

  • @daveeberhardt4380
    @daveeberhardt4380 Pƙed 2 lety +12

    "Waiting For The Sun" by The Doors is another song that blends "D" Phrygian Dominant & "D" Phrygian. Thanks for a great lesson.

  • @nicktshredz
    @nicktshredz Pƙed 3 lety +120

    I'm really happy that you use some examples from metal music because a lot of really good modes get put to use in metal music that doesn't get paid attention to.

    • @user-bx8sj6qm3w
      @user-bx8sj6qm3w Pƙed 3 lety +5

      True. Can't wait for the day he talks about Opeth or Cattle Decapitation. And maybe Tool in detail as well.

    • @goatkoala573
      @goatkoala573 Pƙed 3 lety +11

      True. Sometimes for non metal listeners it’s hard to appreciate what’s going on and many time it’s really interesting and clever stuff

    • @michaeldejong2700
      @michaeldejong2700 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      @@goatkoala573 No it isnt metal is complete stupid music that should not get any attention. But its good not he added a hardrock band like Iron Maiden.

    • @brendanm6921
      @brendanm6921 Pƙed 2 lety +11

      @@michaeldejong2700 Iron Maiden are generally considered to be a heavy metal band. And you really need to open up your mind a bit more.

    • @michaeldejong2700
      @michaeldejong2700 Pƙed 2 lety

      @@brendanm6921 I dont give a shit what people generally think of Iron Maiden because most people are ignorant sheep when it comes to rockmusic. They are a hardrock band and your devilhorn saluting metal-ass is not welcome here.

  • @user-gf9wg3wj6d
    @user-gf9wg3wj6d Pƙed 3 lety +43

    Plenty of Tool songs are in phrygian / phrygian dominant: 46&2, Right in two, Culling voices, fragments from Vicarious etc

  • @DonovanPresents
    @DonovanPresents Pƙed 3 lety +4

    I love the double harmonic scale! I found it on a whim years ago and when looked the scale up I was so excited to find something on my own like that.

  • @Carolina-vn3ip
    @Carolina-vn3ip Pƙed 3 lety +1

    Your channel has helped me so much! The way you explain everything so clear and calmly and all the visuals too! Love from Brazil đŸ‡§đŸ‡·đŸ‡§đŸ‡·đŸ‡§đŸ‡·

  • @aaronclift
    @aaronclift Pƙed 3 lety +160

    "Stargazer" by Rainbow is a great example of a Phrygian Dominant song.

    • @amesstarline5482
      @amesstarline5482 Pƙed 3 lety +11

      Where's your s t a r?

    • @rizzo_grt
      @rizzo_grt Pƙed 3 lety +10

      Ritchie Blackmore was a HUGE fan of Phrygian Domiant - the intro to Anya and the live outro for Perfect Strangers are some examples.

    • @zaneonmeinhart7952
      @zaneonmeinhart7952 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      In jazz and Klezmer music, we call it Freygish scale. It's one of my favorites.

    • @andrejz8954
      @andrejz8954 Pƙed 3 lety

      E phrygian dom? Or B phrygian dom?

    • @EddieReischl
      @EddieReischl Pƙed 3 lety +5

      I feel like "Gates of Babylon" is too, the main riff, E Phrygian, I suppose. It gives it that Arabian feel. A couple of classic songs from one of the best bands ever.

  • @williamchristian8705
    @williamchristian8705 Pƙed 3 lety +58

    Being a non musician I find the information that you deliver is top notch.
    Even for myself I find it intrigues me. I actually can follow and understand it.
    It teach me the difference between what makes a good song great.
    Little minor tweaks can convey a major shift in the flow and emotion of a song.
    At any extent I thank you for your efforts and enlightenment.

  • @gaabs5380
    @gaabs5380 Pƙed rokem +8

    I love how you're showing us how it would sound like in normal mode. It's so great for imagionation, it gives so mouch more understaning of the amosphere of each of the modes. And it also creates some funny positive caricatures of the metal songs

  • @XxX_J41M13_XxX
    @XxX_J41M13_XxX Pƙed rokem +8

    I feel that another really good examole of a Phrygian song is Fulenn by Alvan & Ahez, feom Eurovison 2022. Its in Bb Phrygian, which gives it a very distinct magical and dark feel, almost atonal in nature; matching the feel of the song(since its about being careless, breaking away from the usual, and just partying with nature) and also sticking to Bretons culture. Since Bretonic music is of Celtic origin(and Celtic music tends to use a lot of phrygian) its also what gives Fulenn its signature "Celt" feel.

  • @pantheon777
    @pantheon777 Pƙed 3 lety +161

    I definitely hear the Tame Impala song in C Phrygian, and it does have a somewhat dark sound to it. But I wonder if those people who hear it in Ab hear it in a lighter context. How would we know?

    • @LucienNox
      @LucienNox Pƙed 3 lety +12

      That’s a shower thought if I’ve ever heard one â˜đŸŒ

    • @Wind-nj5xz
      @Wind-nj5xz Pƙed 3 lety +11

      They probably do since they're hearing it in a major key

    • @bernhardkrickl3567
      @bernhardkrickl3567 Pƙed 3 lety +24

      from the short excerpt in this video I hear it in Ab major. It clearly does sound light and happy to me, like it resolves to the C as the third of the major scale, not the root of phrygian. But maybe if I listen to the whole song it might turn out differently.

    • @kackers
      @kackers Pƙed 3 lety +8

      i hear it in Ab and i'd say while it doesn't exactly sound cheery it does sound pretty light to me

    • @brazzledazzle_
      @brazzledazzle_ Pƙed 3 lety +2

      I've played the bass line on the guitar and it starts with the diminished 2nd for C Phrygian, descending before finishing with the tonic note, so the way i see it structually fits that mode. Also it fails to hit the A tonic which makes the C Phrygian much more obvious too, seems interesting how some people see it the other way without a tonic note.

  • @Em4gdn1m
    @Em4gdn1m Pƙed 3 lety +62

    Pyramid song is so sick. The tempo of it threw me for such a loop trying to learn it on piano.

    • @ThinWhiteAxe
      @ThinWhiteAxe Pƙed 3 lety +5

      Radiohead to be messing with everyone's brains tempowise. It's almost more surprising when they don't. 😅

    • @joermnyc
      @joermnyc Pƙed 3 lety +3

      He did a full video on why it sounds so off, despite being in 4/4: czcams.com/video/m7GyQovrrDM/video.html

    • @touffedaviau8370
      @touffedaviau8370 Pƙed 3 lety +2

      I think that would be because the song is based on dotted quartets and there's an 8th note swing đŸ€”

    • @spracketskooch
      @spracketskooch Pƙed 2 lety

      Those tiny little pauses really took that simple melody and raised it to the next level.

  • @AbrahamZilberstein
    @AbrahamZilberstein Pƙed 2 lety +8

    The whole modes/scales topic was a complete rocket science for me before I found your channel. Thanks a ton, you're doing a great job with this graphical presentations, examples from real songs and examples like "how it would without this note flattened" etc

  • @philf4086
    @philf4086 Pƙed 3 lety +2

    5:03 - best explanation of a mode that I've heard yet. Simple and straightforward!

  • @yepsidoodles4867
    @yepsidoodles4867 Pƙed 3 lety +58

    In Pink Floyd’s “Hey You” the intro starts with an Em and Dm vamp, therefore using that flatted second in the key of E minor. Though the song doesn’t really stick to Phrygian the whole time, that intro is a short example of some more cool Phrygian.

    • @Stellarainn
      @Stellarainn Pƙed 2 lety +3

      Oh my god i finally understand.!!! When if first heard i couldnt explain the feeling but it felt dark and now i know why

    • @Maddolis
      @Maddolis Pƙed rokem

      Except the melody goes 3-2 ("Hey you") rather than 3-b2. That plus the very first note of the song is the 9/sus2/F# or whatever you want to call it, making it minor.
      If the second note of the scale were completely omitted throughout I could see an argument for it suggesting phrygian by going from Em to Dm but considering all throughout the Em bars there are F#s littered throughout, I'd argue very strongly against it being phrygian.

    • @Maddolis
      @Maddolis Pƙed rokem +2

      @@Stellarainn The darkness of Hey You definitely comes probably primarily from the relationship between Em and Dm, however I'd also suggest it comes from the "Hey You" finishing on the 2nd, having a feeling of suspense (though technically the vocals fall to the tonic/E quietly), along with the melody itself being restrained to the range of around a minor third. That plus the eerie production, the tone of the guitar etc. The piece isn't in E phrygian though.

  • @rasmusn.e.m1064
    @rasmusn.e.m1064 Pƙed 3 lety +97

    11:05 The name of the singer and the lyrics are Greek. The name of the song is also Greek. It means Egyptian. I know the origins of the melody are hazy, but this specific incarnation of it is firmly a part of the Greek rebetiko genre.

    • @3500ton
      @3500ton Pƙed 2 lety +2

      there are hundreds Greek songs in Phrygian. It is a Greek mode, just like all others!

    • @rasmusn.e.m1064
      @rasmusn.e.m1064 Pƙed 2 lety

      ​@@3500ton What are you trying to say? That all songs are Greek? It would be a moot point to point out then, wouldn't it?
      also, not all modes are Greek. Maqam Bayati or Raag Miyan ki Todi don't sound like Greek names to me, neither do their notes.

    • @Music_RTV
      @Music_RTV Pƙed 2 lety +5

      @@rasmusn.e.m1064 i think he means the western modes only. They are called as greek modes too, cause they're suppose to come from them.
      Jonic, doric, phrygian etc are all greek names.

    • @chamberv5261
      @chamberv5261 Pƙed 2 lety

      @@rasmusn.e.m1064 I don't think he meant it like that or in any bad way. Phrygian as a language is super close to Greek and was spoken mainly in West Anatolia.
      When I discovered this mode I realised how "Greek" it sounds in a way. Especially a lot of Athenian old school hiphop and traditional music in urban areas (even tho Phrygian was never spoken in that area). It even reminds me of some Turkish sounds with electric guitar even and honestly, that makes sense.
      I found it fascinating because after I saw this video I realised that those songs specifically as well as the genres that mainly use Phrygian mode are classics and very popular among Greek people!

    • @zakasw.4292
      @zakasw.4292 Pƙed rokem

      Absolutely right... đŸ‡ŹđŸ‡·

  • @yasirozer4782
    @yasirozer4782 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    I can't stress enough how many new things i learnt from this channel. Thanks David

  • @Briansongman
    @Briansongman Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Your composition is gorgeous. The most helpful section of this tutorial. Great stuff

  • @weepingscorpion8739
    @weepingscorpion8739 Pƙed 3 lety +62

    Another metal song that screams Phrygian is Nightwish's Slaying the Dreamer.
    The intro to the track to Doom 1's E1M4 level also uses Phrygian. It starts with in F#m but in the 2nd bar there's a G5 chord.

    • @Benjy52
      @Benjy52 Pƙed 2 lety +2

      I mean Doom is full of dark music.

    • @magnifichades9710
      @magnifichades9710 Pƙed rokem +1

      Slaying the Dreamer is such a good song

  • @lesboothe7291
    @lesboothe7291 Pƙed 3 lety +154

    New Person - just judging by that short clip, I hear it resolving on the C.

  • @franalbano
    @franalbano Pƙed 2 lety

    One of the best lessons on modes and how they affect melody, thanks David!!!

  • @girlgeniusnyc272
    @girlgeniusnyc272 Pƙed 2 lety

    Thank you David! I am learning that the chords are just as important as the melody as you paint the emotions in your song.

  • @Ingestedbanjo
    @Ingestedbanjo Pƙed 3 lety +34

    For 'pop' music that features Phrygian, I think I'm right in saying that in Eurovision 2021, both "Mata Hari" from Azerbaijan, and maybe also "The Moon is Rising" from Latvia both were written in Phrygian.

    • @Zveebo
      @Zveebo Pƙed 3 lety +6

      Yeah, I was going to say I was pretty sure I'd heard it in a few Eurovision entries in the last few years!

    • @pentatronic
      @pentatronic Pƙed 3 lety +4

      Yes Mata Hari switches between Phrygian and Aeolian. The verses are Aeolian, then it switches to Phrygian starting at "just like Cleopatra" through most of the chorus, then back to Aeolian at the end of the chorus for that one last "Mata Ha-a-ri". Now I want to learn it on piano... Such a badass song!

  • @johanneslettinghvilborg2443
    @johanneslettinghvilborg2443 Pƙed 3 lety +59

    That piece of music you wrote... It has such beautiful emotions, I still have goosebumps after hearing it. Love your work:)

  • @brunorodrigues7757
    @brunorodrigues7757 Pƙed 2 lety

    That music at the end of the video is soo awesome. It is exactly the type of sound that makes me just stop, close my eyes and trip out for a while. Love it!

  • @jamisongriffith6308
    @jamisongriffith6308 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Great video. I have watched videos about modes before, but you actually made me understand the concept. So awesome! Definitely going to try jamming in E phrygian on the piano like you did.

  • @garretkaplan
    @garretkaplan Pƙed 3 lety +63

    No Beatles reference in a David Bennett video? I’m shocked lol

  • @peterkelley6344
    @peterkelley6344 Pƙed 3 lety +67

    Your compositions are always so good. Your Phrygian work is wonderful.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  Pƙed 3 lety +13

      Thanks Peter! 😀

    • @samuelnelson2731
      @samuelnelson2731 Pƙed 2 lety

      I love your videos, but you forgot the song “This Is How We Do It”, which is in F Phrygian.

  • @douglasmason6067
    @douglasmason6067 Pƙed 10 měsĂ­ci

    This is the best deep dive into Phrygian I’ve come across, and I love the exploration of tonal ambiguity. Hope you explore tonal ambiguity more in some later videos. Great work keep it up!

  • @chrisperkins2686
    @chrisperkins2686 Pƙed 3 lety +1

    David, I just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos! This is so much more insightful to learning the modes, making it relatable to songs I know and very enjoyable. Your outro performances are also nice to listen to. I feel like your transition to the lower notes in this video reminds me of the interstellar theme a little. I don’t know what mode that would be in, probably not phyrigian.

  • @trevorbrown5714
    @trevorbrown5714 Pƙed 3 lety +11

    I know that David usually doesn't cover classical music, but one of my favorite examples of Phrygian being used is in Brahms' fourth symphony. The second movement (especially the beginning and the end) use E major Phrygian to give the movement a bold, exotic, and noble feel.

  • @nigelhaywood9753
    @nigelhaywood9753 Pƙed 3 lety +12

    As far as I know, 'Misirlou' refers to an Arab theme and perhaps imitates aspects of Arabic music. In Wikipedia it says that it's a song about an Egyptian girl. However it seems to have been first published in Athens in 1920 (I definitely read that somewhere) and I'm quite certain that it was composed by a Greek who, like many of his generation, had recently been expelled from Turkey during the 'ethnic cleansing' taking place there in the early part of the 20th century. The whole 'rebetiko' scene came about as a result of that and I've always thought of this song as being born out of that culture. We might not know definitively who composed it but I very much doubt that it was an Arab. I just thought I'd share that thought but I'm not an expert in these field. I loved this videos as indeed all of your videos. Great work!

  • @justjack4300
    @justjack4300 Pƙed 9 měsĂ­ci

    Thank you so much for these videos! I've been struggling with my mental health and even though I've studied music have been wanting with new ways to approach songwriting... these Mode explanation videos are a great refresher and great for songwriting inspiration!

  • @Joseph-Lau
    @Joseph-Lau Pƙed rokem +1

    That’s a great demonstration of modes with contemporary music.
    It will helps a lot in my teaching of modes by providing examples.
    Thx!

  • @KyrieFortune
    @KyrieFortune Pƙed 3 lety +125

    "It keeps the darkness of the minor scale, but it's somewhat darker"
    Ah yes
    The grimdark scale

    • @bigzube_8919
      @bigzube_8919 Pƙed 3 lety +5

      nah locrian is grimdark

    • @gwalla
      @gwalla Pƙed 3 lety +10

      @@bigzube_8919 In the grim future of locrian there is only dissonance

    • @benbyrd4552
      @benbyrd4552 Pƙed 3 lety

      The homestucks are inescapable

    • @KyrieFortune
      @KyrieFortune Pƙed 3 lety +4

      @@benbyrd4552 the term was coined in the late '80s after Warhammer 40000's slogan, "In the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, there is only war"
      Homestuck merely popularized it outside the niche hobby of sci-fi wargaming

    • @everychannel1025
      @everychannel1025 Pƙed 3 lety +4

      Ah yes
      The vantablack scale

  • @majorpayne8373
    @majorpayne8373 Pƙed 3 lety +22

    "You're As Cold As Ice" is in the Fridgeian Mode.

    • @yesdcotchin
      @yesdcotchin Pƙed 3 lety +1

      wheeeyyoooo

    • @deliusmyth5063
      @deliusmyth5063 Pƙed 3 lety

      What about “Phrygian In The Rhygian” by the Sex Pistols?

  • @specialtramp
    @specialtramp Pƙed 3 lety +1

    You've earned a new patron! 😁 Really great work, you've taught me so much, excited to keep learning with you.

  • @KarlBonner1982
    @KarlBonner1982 Pƙed 3 lety

    Thank you for this one! I was hoping Phrygian would be the next mode you covered.
    Really looking forward to the Lydian installment too!

  • @AabidHussain69
    @AabidHussain69 Pƙed 3 lety +21

    Was listening to all these metal songs and never knew they were in Phrygian. Thanks David!

  • @thomasabraham4532
    @thomasabraham4532 Pƙed 3 lety +6

    One of my favourite Phrygian moments is the Wherever I May Roam solo, where Kirk plays a Phrygian Dominant solo over the Phrygian main riff

  • @rjpiercy2
    @rjpiercy2 Pƙed rokem +6

    Very good discussion of the phrygian mode. White rabbit always reminded me of the spanish flamenco song "Malagueña". Malagueña also combines phrygian with phrygian major. As you probably know the iconic guitar pattern starts with arpeggiated E major (E G# B E G# B) but melodically walks down as it resolves back using a G instead of G# ( A C B A G F E). I really love both of these songs. If you know Malagueña on piano I would love to hear it!

  • @theconfidenceicarry2683
    @theconfidenceicarry2683 Pƙed rokem

    This video has been such an enjoying education to receive, thank you so so so much for making everything so clear!!

  • @christophergetchell6490
    @christophergetchell6490 Pƙed 3 lety +6

    Awesome job making a very dark mode like Phrygian sound beautiful and melodic like your piece at the end!

  • @rawkinj6609
    @rawkinj6609 Pƙed 3 lety +4

    Astounding! I'm totally nerding out on this right now!!!

  • @unstabilizer
    @unstabilizer Pƙed 3 lety +5

    That piece at the end was brilliant! Also, I felt the Tame Impala track was in C Phrygian - but that was from the small bit I heard in the video. Lovely video as always!

  • @zacharylane6148
    @zacharylane6148 Pƙed 3 lety

    Love the vid. Of the song you chose to use as examples of the Phrygian mode, yours and Radio Head's were my favorite.

  • @MarceloHenkin
    @MarceloHenkin Pƙed 3 lety +8

    I love how you give many examples and compare different songs/scales/modes in the same video, so the concepts become much clear. and I think to be able to make these relations you've got to be an expert in the sense that you are comfortable to talk about all these possibilities (different scales, uses, contexts) without any hesitation. this is one of my favorite channels, the way you "mix" (music) theory and practice is wonderful.

  • @nahuel6136
    @nahuel6136 Pƙed 3 lety +6

    great video! I love phrygian, such a distinctive sounding scale.

  • @joshforest304
    @joshforest304 Pƙed rokem

    As always, great vid David. Loved the improv at the end. Another huge use is in Spanish/flamenco music.🎉

  • @alexblake3818
    @alexblake3818 Pƙed rokem

    You definitely have your way with using brilliant examples! Keep up the great work

  • @RemixerDarken
    @RemixerDarken Pƙed 3 lety +5

    Thanks for making this, I was hoping for a video about Phrygian since the one about Dorian.

  • @laveraparato258
    @laveraparato258 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Thanks so much for your videos. You make music theory simple and fun

  • @jeromesadlo9470
    @jeromesadlo9470 Pƙed rokem

    I like the way you showed how it would sound in the usual scale. Good video👍

  • @scottmatznick3140
    @scottmatznick3140 Pƙed 3 lety +15

    Just got home from Illinois... Locked the front door. OH BOY! A NEW VID FROM DAVID!

  • @coastercraziness
    @coastercraziness Pƙed 3 lety +43

    My personal favorite song in Phrygian is Montero! I love the Eb to E. It manages to be interesting while also being simple. Such a smart thing to have in a pop song
    Edit: I NEVER REALIZED HUMBLE WAS IN PHRYGIAN 😂

  • @jdiaz4877
    @jdiaz4877 Pƙed rokem

    I love the composition you made at the end. Good documentary.

  • @oblivionpro69
    @oblivionpro69 Pƙed 3 lety +1

    Your phrygian outro piece is very nice, thanks for this video.

  • @snoopy_next_door
    @snoopy_next_door Pƙed 3 lety +4

    You always choose the most interesting topic and the best way to present it, thanks for great video!!

  • @pierreyveshuet1763
    @pierreyveshuet1763 Pƙed 3 lety +21

    A Pink Floyd example and then at 1:00 dark forebodings sounds, my head explodes!

  • @huzrokhayzur2197
    @huzrokhayzur2197 Pƙed rokem

    thanks to you i've been able to play that misirlou part by just going up and down the byanthian scale, super fun scale

  • @enzocypriani5055
    @enzocypriani5055 Pƙed 2 lety

    thank you david for this series! so helpful

  • @bloodspatteredguitar
    @bloodspatteredguitar Pƙed 3 lety +4

    I was thinking in the example that used D to set up the resolution to E that the natural set up would be to drop down from the flat 2 rather than rise from below. That's certainly how Gregorian chant tends to resolve Phyrgian.... so I was happy to see you doing precisely that in your piece at the end.

  • @REEDRICHARDS2
    @REEDRICHARDS2 Pƙed 3 lety +3

    MAGNIFICENT!!! You are a young master ! Thanks!!!

  • @ArtBellJr
    @ArtBellJr Pƙed rokem

    Such a deep and useful understanding came from this video. Thanks from Las Vegas, I have no musical background other then I know what sounds good and what needs more production. This made a beginner like me able to know what Phrygian mode is and how it's used.

  • @kalebbrown5916
    @kalebbrown5916 Pƙed 2 lety

    thank you for these videos. I wish I had explanations like this years ago.

  • @slimhazard
    @slimhazard Pƙed 3 lety +19

    10:02 first time I‘ve heard of where the Chemical Brothers got the sample.

  • @aaronbruce5568
    @aaronbruce5568 Pƙed 3 lety +4

    David, I was hearing New Person, Same Old Mistakes in F minor. Just vibed with it.

  • @fruitylerlups530
    @fruitylerlups530 Pƙed 2 lety

    That composition at the end, such a gorgeous chord prog

  • @rekindle
    @rekindle Pƙed 3 lety +1

    Really well done video! I was waiting for Missy Elliot's "Get Your Freak On" to come up in a video about Phrygian and you listed it. It's a really great use of the sound imo. as it makes it light hearted.

  • @valentinch0
    @valentinch0 Pƙed 3 lety +7

    The KLF - What Time is Love?
    UMF - Unbelievable (chorus)
    Massive Attack - Angel
    the first three songs that popped into my head

  • @The_Original_Default_Username
    @The_Original_Default_Username Pƙed 3 lety +10

    For that Tame Impala song, I think the bass line makes it very clear that the tonic note is C.

  • @catworshiper7975
    @catworshiper7975 Pƙed rokem

    Your composition on this one is really really beautiful!

  • @VitorHugo-sj6wb
    @VitorHugo-sj6wb Pƙed 2 lety

    This kind of video is amazing! Continue the awesome job!!!

  • @greenleaf4127
    @greenleaf4127 Pƙed 3 lety +3

    great video, learned a lot from it, thank you!

  • @keep_walking_on_grass
    @keep_walking_on_grass Pƙed 3 lety +5

    sound of muzak by Porcupine Tree has a fantastic chorus, and an iconic drum beat that even the drummer can't explain...

  • @kregconrad
    @kregconrad Pƙed 2 lety

    Love your music at the end of the vid, very nicely played

  • @trontosaurusrex9532
    @trontosaurusrex9532 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Thanks for these informative videos. I'm new to music theory. I first viewed it with intimidation,but that has changed to curiosity as I explore it as one would a cave or forest. I can't uncover everything on my first visit,but I can keep exploring.

  • @Smudger654
    @Smudger654 Pƙed 3 lety +3

    'Meeting of the Spirits', the opening track from the Mahavishnu Orchestra's first album 'The Inner Mounting Flame' is a good example of a Phrygian mode piece (instrumental rather than song in this case) in the fusion genre. The explosive intro chord sequence gives way to the arpeggiated F# Phrygian riff that acts as a foundation for most of the rest of the track and band members' solos.

  • @sunmasterlvef
    @sunmasterlvef Pƙed 3 lety +18

    My favorite mode! :)

  • @Pratt_MusicRoom
    @Pratt_MusicRoom Pƙed 2 lety +1

    U have given us a great insight into the real world usage of phrygian scale. that's awesome. Cheers 👍👍👍

  • @heraldtim
    @heraldtim Pƙed 2 lety

    Definitely with you in hearing C as the tonic in the Tame Impala song. Thanks for another wonderfully educational video!

  • @jerebondar8128
    @jerebondar8128 Pƙed 3 lety +13

    2:52 "MEGADETH, MEGADETH, AGUANTE MEGADETH"
    Great video, ty for using the argentinian concert for megadeth ♡

    • @matatias
      @matatias Pƙed 3 lety

      lol I recognized the same chant

    • @loganp82
      @loganp82 Pƙed 3 lety

      for someone who mentions megadeth four times in there comment you could spell it right maybe.

    • @jerebondar8128
      @jerebondar8128 Pƙed 3 lety +3

      @@loganp82 not a big fan of them honestly, but that concert is iconic

    • @jerebondar8128
      @jerebondar8128 Pƙed 3 lety

      @@loganp82 there u go

  • @LoraCoggins
    @LoraCoggins Pƙed 3 lety +36

    Imagine if there were non-Phrygian pop songs in Phrygian. "The Man Who Sold the World" by David Bowie; "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by Nancy Sinatra. I think that would be really cool.

    • @ThinWhiteAxe
      @ThinWhiteAxe Pƙed 3 lety +2

      I just tried playing The Man Who Sold The World in Phrygian and it sounded *so* wrong lmao

    • @regolithia
      @regolithia Pƙed 3 lety +1

      I mean the main riff to The Man Who Sold The World uses the b9 on the A chord, but yeah, I think that might sound cursed

    • @AN-iz8hq
      @AN-iz8hq Pƙed 3 lety

      If you frame A as the tonal center of Man Who Sold the World, it's basically A Phrygian but always replacing the A minor w/ A major.
      Or you can call it D minor since that's where it ultimately resolves, but the ambiguity is still present. It is Bowie after all.

    • @thomasrinschler6783
      @thomasrinschler6783 Pƙed 3 lety

      Bang Bang was originally written by Cher; Nancy Sinatra just did a cover.

    • @kevincaldwell9700
      @kevincaldwell9700 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      @@thomasrinschler6783 , actually it was written by Sonny Bono for Cher to record.

  • @arnaudcoulon5797
    @arnaudcoulon5797 Pƙed 2 lety

    I came to ear some phyrgian licks, I learnt a lot about modes. Thanks

  • @toxicchasm4989
    @toxicchasm4989 Pƙed 3 lety +11

    I think it's genius that "New Person, Same Old Mistakes" has this ambiguous 'major/minor' feel because the chorus has this contrast of optimism ('feel like a brand new person') and pessimism ('but you'll make the same old mistakes'). And these voices argue with each other