The Indian Scale on Guitar

The Indian scale on this site uses five notes: 1 b2 4 5 b6. With no third and no seventh it leaves the harmony open, and the half step at the bottom plus the b6 give it an Eastern sound.

Because it has only five notes, the shapes are compact and easy to memorize. Choose a key below to get the notes and diagrams, or compare it with other exotic guitar scales.

C Indian Scale guitar diagram, box pattern position 1

C Indian Scale: box pattern, position 1

Structure

How the indian scale is built:

The indian scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 4 5 b6, which gives the step pattern H-WW-W-H-WW (W = whole step, H = half step).

Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 5, 7, 8. That makes it a 5-note scale.

Choose a key

C Indian C# Indian D Indian Eb Indian E Indian F Indian F# Indian G Indian Ab Indian A Indian Bb Indian B Indian

The Indian Scale at a glance

Formula	1 b2 4 5 b6
Step pattern	H-WW-W-H-WW
Notes	5
Sound	Dark and meditative, neither major nor minor because it has no third.
Used for	Melodies over a drone on the root.
Chords to try in C	C5, Csus4

Scales close to Indian

Japanese Scale: 2 instead of b2
Phrygian: adds the b3 and b7
Byzantine: adds the 3 and 7
Phrygian Dominant: adds the 3 and b7

More Exotic Scales

Japanese Scale Gipsy Hungarian Scale Neapolitan Scale Persian Byzantine Arabic Scale

Keep learning

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What is the Indian Scale?

Dark and meditative, neither major nor minor because it has no third. Its formula is 1 b2 4 5 b6, a 5-note scale. Typical use: Melodies over a drone on the root.

What are the notes of the C Indian scale?

The C Indian scale is C, Db, F, G, Ab.

What chords can I play the Indian Scale over?

In the key of C, try C5 and Csus4.