A♭ Persian at a glance
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable. 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 | H W+H H H W W+H H |
| Chords in the key | A♭(♭5)B𝄫C–E𝄫–GD♭mE𝄫–G–B𝄫F♭+G–B𝄫–D♭ |
Chords in the A♭ Persian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♭ Persian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♭ Persian uses two black keys (A♭ and D♭) and five white. B𝄫, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, D and E.
A♭ · B𝄫 · C · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭ · G
Play A♭ Persian on the online piano
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A♭ Persian on the guitar
A♭ Persian - fr 0–12
A♭ Persian on the staff
Notes of the A♭ Persian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B𝄫 | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | C | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E𝄫 | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | F♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes A♭ Persian different
The Persian scale (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7) differs from double harmonic, listed here as Gypsy major, only in its fifth, which is lowered. It keeps both augmented seconds, ♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7, and without a perfect fifth over the tonic it sounds less settled than Phrygian dominant. Its half steps come in clusters: 3, 4, ♭5 is a chromatic run, and 7, 1, ♭2 wraps around the tonic. Tight clusters next to wide gaps are what make it sound ornamented rather than modal. On A♭, A♭ Persian has E𝄫 where A♭ Gypsy Major has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Gypsy Major (A♭ B𝄫 C D♭ E♭ F♭ G).
How to use the A♭ Persian scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Persian are: I♭5 = A♭(♭5), II = B𝄫, III = C–E𝄫–G, iv = D♭m, V = E𝄫–G–B𝄫, VI+ = F♭+, VII = G–B𝄫–D♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Persian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable.
Practice tips
Lean into the two augmented seconds (♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7) as expressive ornaments rather than stepwise notes. Slow chromatic ornamentation around them sells the Persian sound.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Persian scale follows two augmented seconds and a flat second produce a distinctly Middle-Eastern colour (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7). Step pattern: H - W+H - H - H - W - W+H - H. 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♭ Persian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♭ Persian 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♭ Persian scale?
The A♭ Persian scale contains A♭, B𝄫, C, D♭, E𝄫, F♭ and G.
What is the formula for the A♭ Persian scale?
A♭ Persian follows two augmented seconds and a flat second produce a distinctly Middle-Eastern colour (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7).
Is A♭ Persian a major or minor scale?
A♭ Persian is a persian scale. Two augmented seconds and a flat second — distinctly Middle-Eastern, dramatic and ornamented.
What chords belong to the A♭ Persian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♭ Persian are A♭(♭5), B𝄫, C–E𝄫–G, D♭m, E𝄫–G–B𝄫, F♭+, G–B𝄫–D♭.
Which genres use A♭ Persian?
Persian shows up in Persian classical music and any Western composition reaching for a Middle-Eastern flavour. Two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable.
How do you play the A♭ Persian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♭ Persian uses two black keys (A♭ and D♭) and five white. B𝄫, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, D and E.
What is the difference between A♭ Persian and A♭ Gypsy Major?
On A♭, A♭ Persian has E𝄫 where A♭ Gypsy Major has E♭; every other note is shared with A♭ Gypsy Major (A♭ B𝄫 C D♭ E♭ F♭ G).
How do I practise the A♭ Persian scale?
Lean into the two augmented seconds (♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7) as expressive ornaments rather than stepwise notes. Slow chromatic ornamentation around them sells the Persian sound.