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

Formula: H-A2-H-H-W-A2-H
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. When played starting on C, the 7 notes are C, C♯, E, F, F♯, G♯, B. In this key the signature has no sharps or flats. C is the home key of the piano, requiring no black keys for the major scale, and is the default key for most music theory instruction. Beginners typically start in C because its lack of accidentals makes sight-reading, transposition exercises, and harmonic analysis straightforward.

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.