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Persian scale on C .
The Persian scale is a musical scale occasionally found in guitar scale books, along 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:[1]
- H, WH, H, H, W, WH, H
- (W = Whole step - H = Half step)
Beginning on C:
- C, D♭, E, F, G♭, A♭, B, C
Modes
The scale contains the following modes: [2]
Mode Name of scale Degrees 1 Persian Scale 1 ♭2 3 4 ♭5 ♭6 7 8 2 Ionian ♯2 ♯6 1 ♯2 3 4 5 ♯6 7 8 3 Ultraphrygian 
31 ♭2 3♭4 5 ♭6 78 4 Todi Thaat 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7 8 5 Lydian ♯3 ♯6 1 2 ♯3 ♯4 5 ♯6 7 8 6 Mixolydian Augmented ♯2 1 ♯2 3 4 ♯5 6 ♭7 8 7 Chromatic Hypophrygian Inverse 1 ♭2 34 ♭5 678
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See also
- It is most closely related to the Phrygian dominant scale as their bottom tetrachords are identical.[3] It can also be obtained by flattening the fifth degree of the double harmonic scale.
Sources
- ^ Sternal, Mark John (2005). Guitar Total Scales Techniques and Applications, p.156. ISBN 0-9762917-0-3.
- ^ http://www.musiciansunite.com/articles/synthetic-scales---part-xv.html
- ^ Stetina, Troy (1999). The Ultimate Scale Book, p.61. ISBN 0-7935-9788-9.
Further reading
- Hewitt, Michael. Musical Scales of the World. The Note Tree. 2013. ISBN 978-0957547001.