Persian scale

Persian scale on C Playⓘ.

The Persian scale also known as Double Harmonic Major ♭5 is a musical scale occasionally found in guitar scale books, along with other scales inspired by Middle Eastern music. It is characterized by the liberal use of half steps (4), augmented seconds (2), and frequent use of chromaticism. Compare this to the one augmented second of the harmonic minor or the use of only two half-steps in all diatonic scales. This is also the Locrian mode with a major third and major seventh degree.

In Hindustani Classical Music, this corresponds to the raga Lalit.

The sequence of steps is as follows:

Beginning on C:

Modes

This scale contains the following modes:

Mode Name of scale Degrees
1 Persian Scale (or Double Harmonic Major ♭5)1♭234♭5♭678
2 Ionian ♯2 ♯61♯2345♯678
3 Ultraphrygian double flat31♭2double flat3♭45♭6double flat78
4 Hungarian/Gypsy Minor ♭2, Neapolitan Minor ♯4, Todi Thaat1♭2♭3♯45♭678
5 Lydian ♯3 ♯612♯3♯45♯678
6 Mixolydian Augmented ♯21♯234♯56♭78
7 Chromatic Hypophrygian Inverse1♭2double flat34♭5double flat6double flat78

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ Sternal, Mark John (2005). Guitar Total Scales Techniques and Applications, p.156. ISBN 0-9762917-0-3.
  2. ↑ "Synthetic Scales – Part XV". Archived from the original on 2019-02-26.
  3. ↑ Stetina, Troy (1999). The Ultimate Scale Book, p.61. ISBN 0-7935-9788-9.

Further reading