B♭ 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 B♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♭ C D E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H H W W W |
| Chords in the key | B♭(♭5)C°D–F♭–A♭E♭mF♭+G♭+A♭ |
Chords in the B♭ Arabian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♭ Arabian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♭ Arabian uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. F♭ is the white key you'd normally call E.
B♭ · C · D · E♭ · F♭ · G♭ · A♭
Try B♭ Arabian on the virtual piano
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B♭ Arabian on the guitar
B♭ Arabian - fr 0–12
B♭ Arabian on the staff
Notes of the B♭ Arabian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | D | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F♭ | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | G♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B♭ 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 B♭, B♭ Arabian has F♭ where B♭ Hindu has F; every other note is shared with B♭ Hindu (B♭ C D E♭ F G♭ A♭).
How to use the B♭ Arabian scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Arabian are: I♭5 = B♭(♭5), ii° = C°, III = D–F♭–A♭, iv = E♭m, V+ = F♭+, VI+ = G♭+, VII = A♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ 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 B♭ 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 B♭ Arabian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♭ 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 B♭ Arabian scale?
The B♭ Arabian scale contains B♭, C, D, E♭, F♭, G♭ and A♭.
What is the formula for the B♭ Arabian scale?
B♭ 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 B♭ Arabian a major or minor scale?
B♭ 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 B♭ Arabian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♭ Arabian are B♭(♭5), C°, D–F♭–A♭, E♭m, F♭+, G♭+, A♭.
Which genres use B♭ 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 B♭ Arabian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♭ Arabian uses four black keys (B♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and three white. F♭ is the white key you'd normally call E.
What is the difference between B♭ Arabian and B♭ Hindu?
On B♭, B♭ Arabian has F♭ where B♭ Hindu has F; every other note is shared with B♭ Hindu (B♭ C D E♭ F G♭ A♭).
How do I practise the B♭ 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.