B♭ 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 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 | H W+H H H W W+H H |
| Chords in the key | B♭(♭5)C♭D–F♭–AE♭mF♭–A–C♭G♭+A–C♭–E♭ |
Chords in the B♭ Persian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♭ Persian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♭ Persian uses three black keys (B♭, E♭ and G♭) and four white. C♭ and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call B and E.
B♭ · C♭ · D · E♭ · F♭ · G♭ · A
Try B♭ Persian on the virtual piano
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B♭ Persian on the guitar
B♭ Persian - fr 0–12
B♭ Persian on the staff
Notes of the B♭ Persian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♭ | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | D | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | E♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F♭ | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | G♭ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes B♭ 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 B♭, B♭ Persian has F♭ where B♭ Gypsy Major has F; every other note is shared with B♭ Gypsy Major (B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A).
How to use the B♭ Persian scale
The diatonic chords of B♭ Persian are: I♭5 = B♭(♭5), II = C♭, III = D–F♭–A, iv = E♭m, V = F♭–A–C♭, VI+ = G♭+, VII = A–C♭–E♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♭ 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 B♭ 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 B♭ Persian
Start with the music described above: listen for B♭ 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 B♭ Persian scale?
The B♭ Persian scale contains B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F♭, G♭ and A.
What is the formula for the B♭ Persian scale?
B♭ Persian follows two augmented seconds and a flat second produce a distinctly Middle-Eastern colour (1, ♭2, 3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, 7).
Is B♭ Persian a major or minor scale?
B♭ Persian is a persian scale. Two augmented seconds and a flat second — distinctly Middle-Eastern, dramatic and ornamented.
What chords belong to the B♭ Persian scale?
The diatonic chords of B♭ Persian are B♭(♭5), C♭, D–F♭–A, E♭m, F♭–A–C♭, G♭+, A–C♭–E♭.
Which genres use B♭ 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 B♭ Persian scale on the piano?
On the piano B♭ Persian uses three black keys (B♭, E♭ and G♭) and four white. C♭ and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call B and E.
What is the difference between B♭ Persian and B♭ Gypsy Major?
On B♭, B♭ Persian has F♭ where B♭ Gypsy Major has F; every other note is shared with B♭ Gypsy Major (B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A).
How do I practise the B♭ 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.