Chords for B Phrygian

rosanne · #1 08-20-2008, 04:51 PM

I'm teaching my guitarist a new song I wrote and the chorus uses the Phyrigian mode with the root note of B. It goes B C B A B D B C A. He can't play a lot of chords quickly - so I'd like to have him play one chord for the BCB part, one chord for the ABD part, and one for the DBC part and end back on the A. I'm at a loss as to which chords I should tell him to play. Help!

wdave · #2 08-20-2008, 05:03 PM

Not knowing what comes before or after, I'd hazard a guess at Bm7 then Am7. Maybe C instead of Am7.
How does the progression go either side of this area?
Dave Little

E2daGGurl · #3 08-20-2008, 05:20 PM

Wouldn't Cmaj7 work for the BCB part? It's such a pretty chord, too.

Then, Bm7 for the ABD part.

But the DBC part is tricky. D7 might sound best (with your B as a passing note), or maybe there's a chord D7sus6? Gotta be a way to write it as a D7 with an added sixth, right? That would give the triad a minor sound. But to get a chord with both a B and C in it, is not computing very quickly in my brain.

Oh - I know, Bm9! That's gotta be it! My guitar player uses it all the time. BDwith C as the ninth.

Let me know how that works out for you.

rosanne · #4 08-30-2008, 01:47 PM

thank you dave and E2daGGurl.
i've had a bunch of mini-crises here that i'm STILL trying to take care of. that's why i'm so late in posting.

this is a rock song and i've decided to rework the chorus. tuesday we have rehearsal with all 4 of us this time - hopefully i'll have a finished chorus by then!