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