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