C Persian Scale
Notes in the C Persian Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭2 | Phrygian 2nd | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| 3 | Major Mediant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭5 | Tritone | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | 493.883 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | C# |
| 2 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C# | E |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F# |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F# | G# |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G# | B |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | C (complex) | other |
| ♭2 | C# | C# | major |
| 3 | E | E (complex) | other |
| 4 | F | F minor | minor |
| ♭5 | F# | F# (complex) | other |
| ♭6 | G# | G# augmented | augmented |
| 7 | B | B (complex) | other |
Key Signature
No sharps or flats — C Persian Scale uses the same key signature as C major.
C Persian Scale in Practice
The C Persian Scale uses the key signature of no sharps or flats. C major is the simplest key signature with no sharps or flats. It is the starting point for music theory and the most widely studied key in Western music. On guitar, C 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: C Persian Scale Positions
The C key offers open-string resonance (no sharps or flats) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like C are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.
Piano: C Persian Scale
C major is the foundational key for piano study — all white keys, no black keys in the major scale. Every piano method book begins here. The Persian Scale in C remains the most-studied scale pattern for establishing keyboard geography and finger positioning.