A Saba Scale

4-string bass  ·  Maqam  ·  7 notes  ·  minor family

Notes

A
B♭
C
D♭
E♭
F
G

Solfège : La – Si♭ – Do – Ré♭ – Mi♭ – Fa – Sol

Interval Structure

A ½T B♭ T C ½T D♭ T E♭ T F T G A+oct. T

Scale Chords (triads)

DegreeChord (in A)Quality
diminished
ii B♭m minor
iii Cm minor
IV+ D♭+ augmented
V E♭ Major
VI F Major
vii° diminished

About this scale

The Saba maqam (or Sabâ) is one of the most expressive and difficult maqams in Arabic music. Its distinctive b4 gives it a character of deep melancholy that Arabic musicians associate with sorrow and mourning.

See fretboard positions, piano and arpeggios for A Saba in the interactive app.

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Same scale in other keys