The C Persian Scale on Guitar
The C Persian scale is C, Db, E, F, Gb, Ab and B. Its formula is 1, b2, 3, 4, b5, b6, 7, so it combines a flat second, a flat fifth and a major seventh.
Those three notes create strong tensions that pull back to the root, which is why the scale sounds so exotic. Find C on the 8th fret of the low E string or the 3rd fret of the A string. Once it is familiar, other exotic scales are the natural next step.
Play the C persian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C persian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Db | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| E | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Gb | b5 | Tritone | 6 |
| Ab | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| B | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
C persian scale notes:
How the persian scale is built:
The persian scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 3 4 b5 b6 7, which gives the step pattern H-W+H-H-H-W-W+H-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
C Persian 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 persian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Other scales on C
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- C Bizantine: 5 instead of b5
- C Arabic: shares 5 notes
- C Indian: shares 4 notes
The persian scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
