D♯ 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 D♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A B C♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5d · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W W H H W W W |
| Chords in the key | D♯(♭5)E♯°F𝄪–A–C♯G♯mA+B+C♯ |
Chords in the D♯ Arabian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
D♯ Arabian on the piano
Improvisation drone · D♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano D♯ Arabian uses three black keys (D♯, G♯ and C♯) and four white. E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F and G.
D♯ · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A · B · C♯
Play D♯ Arabian on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
D♯ Arabian on the guitar
D♯ Arabian - fr 0–12
D♯ Arabian on the staff
Notes of the D♯ Arabian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | F𝄪 | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | G♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | A | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 6 | B | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | C♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes D♯ 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 D♯, D♯ Arabian has A where D♯ Hindu has A♯; every other note is shared with D♯ Hindu (D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B C♯).
How to use the D♯ Arabian scale
The diatonic chords of D♯ Arabian are: I♭5 = D♯(♭5), ii° = E♯°, III = F𝄪–A–C♯, iv = G♯m, V+ = A+, VI+ = B+, VII = C♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in D♯ 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 D♯ 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 D♯ Arabian
Start with the music described above: listen for D♯ 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 D♯ Arabian scale?
The D♯ Arabian scale contains D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A, B and C♯.
What is the formula for the D♯ Arabian scale?
D♯ 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 D♯ Arabian a major or minor scale?
D♯ 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 D♯ Arabian scale?
The diatonic chords of D♯ Arabian are D♯(♭5), E♯°, F𝄪–A–C♯, G♯m, A+, B+, C♯.
Which genres use D♯ 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 D♯ Arabian scale on the piano?
On the piano D♯ Arabian uses three black keys (D♯, G♯ and C♯) and four white. E♯ and F𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call F and G.
What is the difference between D♯ Arabian and D♯ Hindu?
On D♯, D♯ Arabian has A where D♯ Hindu has A♯; every other note is shared with D♯ Hindu (D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A♯ B C♯).
How do I practise the D♯ 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.