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Posted by: Enucleation Aug 11 2008, 07:03 PM

So I got the idea this morning that I wanted to write a song with a sort of middle eastern feel (I've liked stuff like that for a while).

So can anyone give me some scales that might help me out? I know the phrygian and harmonic minor should work well but if anyone knows any other ones it would be nice.

Thanks

Posted by: fatb0t Aug 11 2008, 07:56 PM

Harmonic minor and it's modes.....

Posted by: fkalich Aug 11 2008, 08:08 PM

Look at some of Hisham's stuff. Muris Oriental Shred. Take a look at Ivan's Macedonian for electric, that is real nice, and very authentic sounding (I know Macedonia is not middle eastern per see but it was part of the Ottoman Empire and the influence is there). Also some of Gabriel's stuff. Such as f-shart phrygian, that is neat. Gabriel is great with this kind of thing, even though he does not advertise it as middle eastern, it has a flavor sometimes, and he always comes up with a great composition.

Posted by: JeroenKole Aug 11 2008, 08:21 PM

Although I am very much a guitar noob and know pretty much nothing of scales. I would like to say that songs with an middle eastern and oriental always seem to be very catchy.

I just listened to Opeth - Closure. And just realized (while browsing around this thread) how much that added to the song and how catchy it becomes.

So I would like to say, If used properly these scales can be awesome and I'm very curious what other scales can give that flavour as well

Posted by: kjutte Aug 11 2008, 08:36 PM

Rather phrygian dominant and Dorian #4 from what I've noticed. Harmonic minor in itself is more of a classical thing.

Posted by: RandomVictim Aug 11 2008, 08:39 PM

Like Kjutte said Phrygian Dominant would probably be your best bet. Believe its a Phrygian scale with a major third i think ha? im no theory buff

Posted by: Niko Fran Aug 11 2008, 08:41 PM

Try Hishams Ajosha scale lesson, I love the sound of that!

Posted by: kjutte Aug 11 2008, 08:47 PM

correct. sharp 3rd compared to phrygian.

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea Aug 11 2008, 10:47 PM

Ajosha lesson is an a middle eastern scale

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Aug 12 2008, 01:14 AM

My vote for phrygian dominant. You can build a nice harmony around that center.

Posted by: RIP Dime Aug 12 2008, 04:07 AM

Dude! Sorry, excuse my toilet humor.

All the scales and modes mentioned work great.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Aug 13 2008, 12:12 AM

There is a book by J.P. Befumo called Exotic Scales. In this book you have all the common scales and the uncommon too, like the "enigmatic scale". You recognize the eastern sounding by the augmented intervals, like the harmonic minor and the augmented 2nd between the VI and VII degree.
Also you can explore the posibilities of the intervals and "create" scales of 5, 6,7 ot 8 notes. It's a good exercise, Allan Holdsworth did it to find the scales that he uses (he found the same scales that we all know) but is a nice way to create a concious ear about this topic.
I hope you find it usefull.

Posted by: Gus Aug 13 2008, 01:15 AM

Phyrigian dominant and this one, the double harmonic scale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_scale

since they only differ a note, you can easily modulate between them...

I first found about the double harmonic scale when trying to figure out which scale was used in Misirlou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 13 2008, 04:59 PM

HOLY CRAP! I can't thank you enough. Why didn't I look at this or learn this scale before!? I'm getting all kinds of ideas from this.

My favorite scale may have just been replaced (sorry harmonic minor XD)

Posted by: MW1234 Aug 13 2008, 05:22 PM

Hungarian minor is an eastern sounding one

Posted by: Henry Dietzel Aug 13 2008, 05:51 PM

Here's a few funky scales for you to play around with

East Indian Purvi

E|---------------------------
G|-----------------------4-5-
B|-------------------1-3-----
D|-------------1-2-3---------
A|-------1-2-3---------------
E|-0-1-4---------------------

Arabian

E|-----------------------------
G|-------------------------4-5-
B|-------------------2-3-5-----
D|-------------1-2-4-----------
A|-------0-1-3-----------------
E|-0-2-4-----------------------

Balinese

E|-------------------------
G|-------------------------
B|-------------------2-3-5-
D|-------------2-3-5-------
A|-------0-1-3-------------
E|-0-1-3-------------------

Persian

E|-----------------
G|-----------------
B|-----------------
D|-------------1-2-
A|-------0-1-3-----
E|-0-1-4-----------

Byzantine

E|-----------------------------
G|-------------------------4-5-
B|-------------------2-4-5-----
D|-------------1-2-3-----------
A|-------0-2-3-----------------
E|-0-1-4-----------------------