Phrygian Vamp

i–bII · Spanish vamp · C minor · i–bII

Play this pattern

Phrygian Vamp is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are i–bII.

A two-chord minor loop with the second chord a half-step above the tonic. It sounds Spanish, modal, and unresolved.

Patterns are common chord moves. They are not the chart of a recorded hit.

Patterns are named by theory. Play them in any key that fits your voice.

Each song page has a chord chart, fingerings, and the same song in every key.

The pattern

i – bII

Cm · Db

Chord chart

Chord chart
1Cm·Db·

How to sing it

Keep the tonic chord heavy. The bII should feel like a lift, not a new key, then fall back.

In every key

In every key
KeysChord chart
C minor · Written in this keyCm · Db
Db minorC#m · D
D minorDm · Eb
Eb minorD#m · E
E minorEm · F
F minorFm · Gb
F# minorF#m · G
G minorGm · Ab
Ab minorG#m · A
A minorAm · A#
Bb minorBbm · B
B minorBm · C

These songs use this pattern. This is not their chord chart: real recordings differ in key, rhythm and the chords they add.

Public-domain songs with this pattern

No Songbook entry uses this pattern as a run of chords.