G Persian scale

A major-based scale with lowered 2nd, 5th and 6th degrees; the diminished 5th increases instability.

Octaves

Musical context

How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.

Theory

General info

Name
G Persian scale
Family
Exotic scales
Note count
7
Step formula
H – W+H – H – H – W – W+H – H
Numeric formula
0-1-3-1-1-2-3-1

Notes & degrees

1Groot
b2Abminor 2nd
3Bmajor 3rd
4Cperfect 4th
b5Dbdim 5th
b6Ebminor 6th
7F#major 7th

Construction

Overview
A major-based scale with lowered 2nd, 5th and 6th degrees; the diminished 5th increases instability.
Application in music
Lowered 2nd and 6th degrees tend toward tonic-chord tones, while the lowered 5th removes the tonic’s perfect 5th.
Interval formula
G
H
Ab
WH
B
H
C
H
Db
W
Eb
WH
F#

Chords by degree

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IGnominal centretonic
IIIBdefines modal qualitythird

Typical resolutions & tensions

VIIF#F#
IGG
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIBB
IVCC
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGG
IIAbAb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how G Persian scale looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmGmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
1 sharp (F#)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions