B Persian Scale
Notes in the B Persian Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | A# | 466.164 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C | D# |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D# | E |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G | A# |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A# | B |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | B (complex) | other |
| ♭2 | C | C | major |
| 3 | D# | D# (complex) | other |
| 4 | E | E minor | minor |
| ♭5 | F | F (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | G | G augmented | augmented |
| 7 | A# | A# (complex) | other |
Key Signature
5 ♯ — The B key signature uses F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
B Persian Scale in Practice
The B Persian Scale uses the key signature of 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#). B major has five sharps and a bright, somewhat tense quality. Enharmonically equivalent to Cb major, it is used in orchestral writing and some jazz compositions. On guitar, B positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The Persian scale has a distinct Middle Eastern character with its flat 2nd and 5th degrees combined with a natural major 3rd and leading tone. It evokes the musical traditions of ancient Persian culture.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A# | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: B Persian Scale Positions
The B key offers 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like B are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.