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