The C Arabic Scale on Guitar
The C Arabic scale, also called C Major Locrian, is C, D, E, F, Gb, Ab and Bb. It starts like a major scale (C, D, E, F) and finishes with a lowered upper half: Gb, Ab and Bb.
That shift from bright to dark suits melodies that move between tension and release. Find the root on the 8th fret of the low E string or the 3rd fret of the A string. More options live in the exotic scales overview.
Play the C arabic scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C arabic scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| E | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Gb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| Ab | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| Bb | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
C 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.
C Arabic Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
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 C arabic scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as C 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F Neapolitan | 4 | Neapolitan Major |
Other scales on C
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- C Bizantine: shares 4 notes
- C Persian: shares 5 notes
- C Phrygian Dominant: shares 5 notes
- C Mixolydian b6: 5 instead of b5
- C 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
