A Persian Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Double Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram
A Persian in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals
The A Persian scale is an exotic and highly symmetrical scale that evokes an authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere. On Guitar, it contains the notes A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G#. Its dense semitones and wide intervals create a winding, hypnotic melodic path that sounds both ancient and mystical. Commonly used in Middle Eastern, Film Scores, Metal, Ambient. Notable players include Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Buckethead. Use over sustained root notes or drones. Works best in modal, non-functional harmony where the exotic intervals can breathe.
Notes: A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5d, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-WH-H-H-W-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Tuning: Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)
About Double Drop D Tuning
Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) lowers both the 6th and 1st strings from E to D, creating a symmetrical frame of D notes around the standard middle four strings. This gives a distinctly resonant, jangly character that has been beloved in folk-rock and acoustic music since the late 1960s.
Neil Young used Double Drop D extensively — 'Cinnamon Girl' features its distinctive droning riff, and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' showcases its intimate fingerpicking potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Going to California'. Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' also employs this tuning. Because only two strings change (both by just one whole step), Double Drop D is one of the easiest alternate tunings to learn — most standard chord shapes on the inner four strings remain unchanged.
Notable artists: Neil Young, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Best for: Folk-rock songwriting, D-centric acoustic arrangements, droning fingerpicking patterns, and any song that benefits from rich D-string resonance on both outer strings
Musical Character
Dense with semitones and wide intervals that create a winding, serpentine melodic path. Its high symmetry gives it a meditative, 'orbiting' quality.
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A Persian in Standard Tuning
- A Persian in Drop D
- A Persian in DADGAD
- A Persian in Open G
- A Persian in Baritone (B Standard)
- A Persian in 7-string
- A Persian in 8-string
- A Persian in Drop C
- A Persian in Drop B
- A Persian in Open D
- A Persian in Half Step Down
- A Persian in Open E
- A Persian in Open A
- A Persian in Open C