Algerian scale
The Algerian Scale is a scale which is frequently found in Algerian, Berber, and North African music. The frequent use of 1.5 steps(or whole-and-a-half steps) in the scale helps create a sound which is commonly associated with Moorish music.
It is also defined as an eleven note scale containing two augmented seconds. This was used by Jacques Ibert in Escales (1924).
Scale formula
In step notation:
W, H, WH, H, H, WH, H
W = Whole step
H = Half step
WH = Whole-and-a-half step
or in decimals:
1 step + 0.5 step + 1.5 step + 0.5 step + 0.5 step + 1.5 step + 0.5 step.
Note that this formula gives the first octave only. In the second octave, the third step will be 1 rather than 1.5, followed by a step of 1 rather than 0.5. This may be seen in image to the right. The lower octave shows an F# while the upper octave shows an F natural.
Sources
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