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