A Arabic Scale and the Open A String
The A Arabic scale contains A, B, C#, D, Eb, F and G. Four open strings, A, D, G and B, are part of it, which makes the first position very comfortable.
The root on the low E string is at the 5th fret. After the A major beginning, Eb arrives as the flat fifth and F and G finish the darker half.
Play the A arabic scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A arabic scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| B | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| D | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Eb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| F | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
A arabic scale notes:
How the arabic scale is built:
The arabic scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 b5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-H-W-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is also known as Major Locrian.
A Arabic Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the A arabic scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as A Arabic
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| D Neapolitan | 4 | Neapolitan Major |
Other scales on A
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- A Bizantine: shares 4 notes
- A Persian: shares 5 notes
- A Phrygian Dominant: shares 5 notes
- A Mixolydian b6: 5 instead of b5
- A Aeolian b5: b3 instead of 3
The arabic scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
