What is this scale called?

[Nickthebass]

I stuck this query up on the main forums too but I thought I might worth putting it here too...

I've been messing around with a scale for a while and I have idea what it's called or how to describe it short of:

1 b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7 8

in C this gives you

C Db Eb F Gb A Bb C

to my ear it sounds best in Bb

Bb Cb Db Eb Fb G Ab Bb (aka)
Bb B Db Eb E G Ab Bb

It has an Arabic / flamenco feel to me but so far my trawling of Wikipedia has turned up nothing with these intervals.

Any ideas what this is called and how it fits into other things?

[alec]

It's the Locrian mode. Natural notes starting on B.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by alec

It's the Locrian mode. Natural notes starting on B.

Locrian's got a b6 in it I think. This has a major 6.

Got the answer on one of the other forums ... it's the 2nd mode of a harmonic minor scale.

Still don't know what the hell to do with it though.

[NoiseNinja]

That's like the best scale for metal, I love it too.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by NoiseNinja

That's like the best scale for metal, I love it too.

Me thinks you are extracting the Michael haa haa

I'm almost the least metal person you will meet ... despite a deep appreciation for Mastodon.

[alec]

Originally Posted by Nickthebass

Locrian's got a b6 in it I think. This has a major 6.

Yeah you're right. I didn't think my post had gone through so I didn't worry about fixing it.
Anyway, if it sounds good - play it!

[ACalbass]

Originally Posted by Nickthebass

Locrian's got a b6 in it I think. This has a major 6.

Got the answer on one of the other forums ... it's the 2nd mode of a harmonic minor scale.

Still don't know what the hell to do with it though.

Is a minor scale with a major 7th.
You are just starting in the second mode.

Is also a type of arabian scale. (mohamedian).

play a song in minor tonic,then play this scale on the dominant chord, you'll understand how to apply it. ( it accents the 3rd major and minor 7th of dominant)

[Buxtehude]

Also works on half diminished (min7b5) chords

[Nickthebass]

Magic ... thanks guys

[Art Araya]

Sorry - late to the party...

I've been compiling a massive database of all scales and modes for years and am working on a scale application for Windows desktop called Scale Mastery. Hopefully I'll get around to finishing it and releasing it sometime!

This scale has several names:

Locrian Natural 6
Pseudo Turkish
Maqam Tarznauyn

[Art Araya]

Originally Posted by Nickthebass

Got the answer on one of the other forums ... it's the 2nd mode of a harmonic minor scale.

That's correct. It's also a mode of other scales as well...

Ahava Rabba (Mode 5)
Alhijaz (Arabic) (Mode 5)
Altered Dominant Double Flat 7 (Mode 3)
Avaha Raba (Mode 5)
Deshi(3) (Mode 2)
Dorian Sharp 4 (Mode 6)
Dorico Flamenco (Mode 5)
Ethiopian (1) (Mode 7)
Flamenco (2) (Mode 5)
Gnossiennes (Mode 6)
Harmonic Major (2) (Mode 7)
Harmonic Major Inverse (Mode 5)
Harmonic Minor (Mode 2)
Hedjaz (Mode 6)
Hitzaz (Mode 5)
Ionian Augmented (Mode 7)
Jewish (Ahaba Rabba) (Mode 5)
Jewish Major (Mode 5)
Kaffa (Mode 6)
Kalyana Vasantha (Mode 2)
Kirvani (Mode 2)
Locrian Flat 4 Double Flat 7 (Mode 3)
Lydian #2 (Mode 4)
Major Phrygian (Mode 5)
Maqam Bayat-e-Esfahan (Mode 2)
Maqam Humayun (Mode 5)
Maqam Nakriz (Mode 6)
Mela Hemavati (Mode 6)
Mela Kiravani (Mode 2)
Mela Kosalam (Mode 4)
Mela Vakulabharanam (Mode 5)
Minor (Harmonic) (Mode 2)
Mischung (2) (Mode 7)
Mischung (4) (Mode 2)
Misheberekh (Mode 6)
Mixolydian Sharp 1 (Mode 3)
Mohammedan (Mode 2)
Nigriz (Mode 6)
Phrygian Dominant (Mode 5)
Phrygian Natural 3 (Mode 5)
Pilu That (Mode 2)
Raga Desisimharavam (Mode 6)
Raga Jogiya (Mode 5)
Raga Kiranavali (Mode 2)
Raga Kusumakaram (Mode 4)
Romanian (Mode 6)
Romanian Minor (Mode 6)
Souzinak (Mode 6)
Spanish (Mode 5)
Spanish Folk (Mode 5)
Spanish Gypsy (Mode 2)
Sultani Yakah (Mode 2)
Tunisian (Mode 6)
Ultra Locrian (Mode 3)
Vativasantabhairavi (Mode 5)
Zhalibny Minor (Mode 2)

Can't imagine that all of this will help you in any way. But who knows? Perhaps there's some other scale nut out there like me.

;>)

Or, if anyone else wants to know the name of a scale - shoot me a PM.

[Guimdonatron]

Definitely finish up that scale database! I would like to know the titles of these scales and such. Where would you start on discovering the origins of various scales and such? Any books out there that already have scale origins for various regions?

[Art Araya]

Originally Posted by Guimdonatron

Definitely finish up that scale database! I would like to know the titles of these scales and such. Where would you start on discovering the origins of various scales and such? Any books out there that already have scale origins for various regions?

Hi bro. So many sources compiled over time. Various books and online webpages, web databases.

Your idea of scale origins is an interesting one. I don't have that information. Though it is pretty easy to come up with common scales used in Indian music, Chinese music, Gypsy music, etc...