The Algerian Scale has eight notes and the easiest way to memorize them are by the intervals. The first thing that you should give attention to in the Algerian scales is the three semi-steps that follow in sequence from note four to seven. In total, the scale has four halftones (see “Formula” below).
This scale is for anybody who likes music from the Middle East or just want to try something exotic. Additionally, there is an extendend version of this scale, which is presented below the pictures.
The Algerian Scale is frequently found in Algerian, Arab, Berber, and North African music. The frequent use of 1.5 steps in the scale helps create a sound which is commonly associated with Middle Eastern music. It is also defined as an eleven note scale containing two augmented seconds.
C
Notes: C, D, Eb, F, F#, G, Ab, B, C
C# / Db
Notes: C#, D#, E, F#, G, G#, A, C, C#
D
Notes: D, E, F, G, G#, A, A#, C#, D
D# /Eb
Notes: D#, F, F#, G#, A, A#, B, D, D#
E
Notes: E, F#, G, A, A#, B, C, D#, E
F
Notes: F, G, Ab, Bb, B, C, Db, E, F
F# / Gb
Notes: F#, G#, A, B, C, C#, D, F, F#
G
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, C#, D, D#, F#, G
G# / Ab
Notes: G#, A#, B, C#, D, D#, E, G, G#
A
Notes: A, B, C, D, D#, E, F, G#, A
A# / Bb
Notes: A#, C, C#, D#, E, F, F#, A, A#
B
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F, F#, G, A#, B
Algerian Scales overview
C: C, D, Eb, F, F#, G, Ab, B, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F#, G, G#, A, C, C# / Db, Eb, E, Gb, G, Ab, A, C, Db
D: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D
D#/Eb: D, E, F, G, G#, A, A#, C#, D / D, E, F, G, Ab, A, Bb, Db, D
E: E, F#, G, A, A#, B, C, D#, E
F: F, G, Ab, Bb, B, C, Db, E, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, B, C, C#, D, F, F# / Gb, Ab, A, B, C, Db, D, F, Gb
G: G, A, Bb, C, C#, D, D#, F#, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C#, D, D#, E, G, G# / Ab, Bb, B, Db, D, Eb, E, G, Ab
A: A, B, C, D, D#, E, F, G#, A
A#/Bb: A#, C, C#, D#, E, F, F#, A, A# / Bb, C, Db, Eb, E, F, Gb, A, Bb
B: B, C#, D, E, F, F#, G, A#, B
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, #4, 5, b6, 7
Semi-notes: 2 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3 – 1
Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Half, Half, Half, Whole and a half, Whole
The long version of the Algerian Scale
The extendend version of this scale include three additional notes which continues into the next octave. Taking the Algerian Scale in C as an example, this is how the short and long versions of the scales divide:
Short version: C, D, Eb, F, F#, G, Ab, B, C
Long version: C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F
More interesting information concerning the Algerian Scale can be found in the article “Why Does A Scale Sound Exotic?” on Guitar9.com.
