STRINGSCALES

D♭ persian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Abb, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10

A string: Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb, Abb, Bbb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

D string: Ebb, F, Gb, Abb, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12

G string: Abb, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb, Abb at frets 0, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

B string: C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb, Abb, Bbb at frets 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10

High E string: F, Gb, Abb, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10

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Db 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:

D♭

I

D♭majb5
E𝄫

bII

E𝄫maj
F

III

Fsus2
G♭

iv

G♭m
A𝄫

bV

A𝄫sus4
B𝄫

bVI+

B𝄫aug
C

VII

E𝄫7no5/C

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Gb todi raga

persian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Three half-step pairs and no perfect 5th: phrase Db persian over a root drone, resolving bII (D) to root and VII to root from both sides.
  • The b5 (G) stands where the anchor should be; approach it from the major 3rd (F) 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 (D) and root, slide III to 4th (Gb), and let notes decay into the drone.

How to play D♭ persian on guitar

A capo at fret 1 turns this into the C shape, which lets anyone who knows that fingering play it unchanged. Open A, D and G sit in the scale, though none of them is the root or the fifth, so they work as passing tones instead of a drone. Lowest root is fret 9 on the low E. Box one from there ends at fret 13, so the next shape starts near the top of the neck. Five flats in the signature, and the iv chord is Gbm.

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