STRINGSCALES

A persian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G#, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12

D string: D, Eb, F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F at frets 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10

B string: C#, D, Eb, F, G#, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11

High E string: F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

Pick a root note

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A persian

The persian scale is the double harmonic major scale with a flattened 5th: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, flat 6th, major 7th. Three half-step pairs and no perfect 5th make it one of the most tension-saturated named scales. Over a drone it produces an unmistakably Middle Eastern lament; elsewhere use it in small doses.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

Amaj♭5
B♭

bII

B♭maj
C♯

III

C♯sus2
D

iv

Dm
E♭

bV

E♭sus4
F

bVI+

Faug
G♯

VII

B♭7no5/G#

Same notes, different mode

A persian uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

D todi raga

persian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Three half-step pairs and no perfect 5th: phrase A persian over a root drone, resolving bII (Bb) to root and VII to root from both sides.
  • The b5 (Eb) stands where the anchor should be; approach it from the major 3rd (C#) below to keep lines singable.
  • Use it in small doses over a metal or cinematic pedal tone; a single ascending run is often more effective than a full solo.
  • Ornament like an oud player: trill between bII (Bb) and root, slide III to 4th (D), and let notes decay into the drone.

How to play A persian on guitar

Open A is the root and open D the perfect fourth above it, so a two-string pedal is available without fretting anything. Lowest root sits at fret 5 on the low E string, giving an e-shape barre at that fret. That box ends at fret 9, meaning one shape carries the stretch from fret 5 up to it. Dm is the iv chord. Two sharps in the signature, and the a-shape barre falls at fret 12.

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