Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Arabic Scale

There are actually two different scales referred to as “Arabian”. The one presented with diagrams below is similar to the Major Locrian Scale and the other to the Diminished Scale. The scales illustrated below in all keys, belong to the former. They can easier be memorized if compared to the Major Scale: the fifth, sixth and seventh are lowered half a step with the rest of the notes just the same as in the Major.

The scale is not officially named “Arabic Scale”, but since it is often used in Arabic music it is adequate to call it so. See also Maqams.

The Major Locrian is an alternate Locrian scale, which blends the features of Major Scale and Locrian Mode. Major Locrian deviates from Locrian Mode with major second and thirds intervals (see full interval pattern below).

Arabic Scales overview
C: C, D, E, F, Gb Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E#, F#, G, A, B, C# / Db, Eb, F, Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D: D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, B, D
D#/Eb: D#, F, G, G#, A, B, C#, D# / Eb, F, G, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb
E: E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C, D, E
F: F, G, A, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A#, B, C, D, E, F# / Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Dbb (C), Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G: G, A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B# (C), C#, D, E, F#, G# / Ab, Bb, C, Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A: A, B, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B# (C), C## (D), D#, E, F#, G#, A# / Bb, C, D, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb
B: B, C#, D#, E, F, G, A, B

Intervals: 1, 2, 3, 4, b5, b6, b7
Semi-notes: 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2
Formula: Whole, Whole, Half, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole