A♭ Arabian at a glance
Despite the name, the Arabian scale (major Locrian) isn't an Arabic maqam: the label comes from jazz theory books. Its 1, 3, ♭5 and ♭7 spell a dominant seventh flat five, which is the chord jazz players use it over. Its signature is the flat fifth, reached by a half step from the fourth and followed by whole steps up to the octave. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E𝄫 F♭ G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H H W W W |
| Chords in the key | A♭(♭5)B♭°C–E𝄫–G♭D♭mE𝄫+F♭+G♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Arabian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Arabian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Arabian uses four black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭ and G♭) and three white. E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call D and E.
A♭ · B♭ · C · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G♭
Play A♭ Arabian on the online piano
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A♭ Arabian on the guitar
A♭ Arabian - fr 0–12
A♭ Arabian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Arabian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | C | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E𝄫 | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♭ Arabian different
The Arabian scale as used here (1, 2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7) is also called major Locrian: a major lower half under Locrian's upper half. It differs from the Hindu scale only in the fifth, which is lowered. Six of its seven notes form a whole-tone scale and the fourth is the only note outside it, so it sounds like whole-tone with one foothold. Its only half steps are 3 to 4 and 4 to ♭5, both packed into the middle of the scale. On A♭, A♭ Arabian has E𝄫 where A♭ Hindu has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Hindu (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How to use the A♭ Arabian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Arabian are: I♭5 = A♭(♭5), ii° = B♭°, III = C–E𝄫–G♭, iv = D♭m, V+ = E𝄫+, VI+ = F♭+, VII = G♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Arabian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Despite the name, the Arabian scale (major Locrian) isn't an Arabic maqam: the label comes from jazz theory books. Its 1, 3, ♭5 and ♭7 spell a dominant seventh flat five, which is the chord jazz players use it over. Its signature is the flat fifth, reached by a half step from the fourth and followed by whole steps up to the octave.
Practice tips
Treat the half steps in the middle of the scale (3–4 and 4–♭5) as ornamental targets rather than passing notes. Slow trills and slides there sell the Arabian sound, while the whole steps above ♭5 carry the line up to the octave.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Arabian scale follows intervals 1, 2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, a major lower tetrachord followed by whole steps from the flat fifth to the octave. Step pattern: W - W - H - H - W - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♭ Arabian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Arabian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭ Arabian scale?
The A♭ Arabian scale contains A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E𝄫, F♭ and G♭.
What is the formula for the A♭ Arabian scale?
A♭ Arabian follows intervals 1, 2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7, a major lower tetrachord followed by whole steps from the flat fifth to the octave.
Is A♭ Arabian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Arabian is a arabian scale. Major lower tetrachord, then a flat fifth and whole steps up to the octave: major Locrian, a jazz-book name rather than an Arabic maqam.
What chords belong to the A♭ Arabian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Arabian are A♭(♭5), B♭°, C–E𝄫–G♭, D♭m, E𝄫+, F♭+, G♭.
Which genres use A♭ Arabian?
Despite the name, the Arabian scale (major Locrian) isn't an Arabic maqam: the label comes from jazz theory books. Its 1, 3, ♭5 and ♭7 spell a dominant seventh flat five, which is the chord jazz players use it over. Its signature is the flat fifth, reached by a half step from the fourth and followed by whole steps up to the octave.
How do you play the A♭ Arabian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Arabian uses four black keys (A♭, B♭, D♭ and G♭) and three white. E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call D and E.
What is the difference between A♭ Arabian and A♭ Hindu?
On A♭, A♭ Arabian has E𝄫 where A♭ Hindu has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Hindu (A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭).
How do I practise the A♭ Arabian scale?
Treat the half steps in the middle of the scale (3–4 and 4–♭5) as ornamental targets rather than passing notes. Slow trills and slides there sell the Arabian sound, while the whole steps above ♭5 carry the line up to the octave.