Chords in F# Phrygian

F# Phrygian is built from the notes F#, G, A, B, C#, D and E. Its scale carries 2 sharps. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on F#m as the i. The chord on the fifth degree is C#dim rather than a major VØ, so F# Phrygian has no leading tone and resolves by step and colour instead of by dominant pull — the sound that separates it from a plain F# major.

Beyond those seven, F# Phrygian commonly borrows F# (I), G#m (ii), A#m (iii), B (IV) and C# (V) from the parallel major — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.