What is this scale???

[Nickthebass]

I've been messing about with a scale for a while and I'm wondering (a) what it's called and (b) how it fits into other scales etc.

I doubt very much that I've stumbled on something new so someone out there must know what it is. The intervals are:

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 sound to me but so far my trawling of Wikipedia has turned up nothing with these intervals.

Any ideas?

[longfinger]

From Bb to Bb, that is a Bb Harmonic minor scale. It's one of the main scales.

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1
Bb C Db Eb F Gb A Bb

The A was raised from Ab to A to create a leading tone, and allow for a V chord. Hence the name "harmonic minor"

[DeadHeadSF]

1 b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7 8 looks like phrygian mode with a flat 5...?

[Crimstein]

Locrian

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by longfinger

From Bb to Bb, that is a Bb Harmonic minor scale. It's one of the main scales.

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1
Bb C Db Eb F Gb A Bb

The A was raised from Ab to A to create a leading tone, and allow for a V chord. Hence the name "harmonic minor"

Nope ... sorry man ... you're missing it a b2, b2 6 and b7

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by Crimstein

Locrian

Nope ... locrian has a b6 not a regular 6

Maybe I just have weird ears and it is something like "a locrian with a major 6"

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by DeadHeadSF

1 b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7 8 looks like phrygian mode with a flat 5...?

I guess it is a phrygian with a flat 5 or locrian with a major 6. It's the m3 - semitone sequence of b5 - 6 - b7 that grabs my ear.

[Febs]

Second mode of the harmonic minor scale.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by Febs

Second mode of the harmonic minor scale.

Ding ding ... I think we have a winner .... thanks!!!

Now ... what on earth do I use it for!!!

[NoiseNinja]

What is the best scale for metal... Carrots would be my guess, if it fits in nice somewhere I'm sure it is in good use, no matter what name it is it is.

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by Nickthebass

Ding ding ... I think we have a winner .... thanks!!!

Now ... what on earth do I use it for!!!

Use it on minor ii-7b5 V7b9 progressions.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by Freddels

Use it on minor ii-7b5 V7b9 progressions.

Thanks mate.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by Nickthebass

Ding ding ... I think we have a winner .... thanks!!!

Now ... what on earth do I use it for!!!

I guess if you ever run across a min13(b5) chord you could try it out.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by NoiseNinja

What is the best scale for metal... Carrots would be my guess, if it fits in nice somewhere I'm sure it is in good use, no matter what name it is it is.

Totally agree with the sentiment. I've been writing hip-hop grooves with it. I guess what I really meant was ... I'm struggling for some chords.

All I could think of was Bb7 -> Bmaj7.

[Nickthebass]

Originally Posted by Febs

I guess if you ever run across a min13(b5) chord you could try it out.

Plan for tomorrow ... write a tune with that chord in A LOT just so that I can crowbar in this dazzling new scale that I didn't know the name of. Then everyone will be impressed with my mad skillz.