Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Arabic Scales

There are actually two different scales referred to as “Arabian”. One 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 easy be memorized if compared to the Major Scale: the fifth, sixth and seventh is lowered half a step and the rest of the notes are 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.

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