Most of the worlds music is built from the standard Western scale format, but what if you want to sound unique, different and spice it up a bit? Here’s where Exotic Scales come in.
And, in this article we’re going to cover 10 of the best exotic piano scales for Trap music, with formulas, diagrams and spellings, so you can up your melody game!
On a related note, we also have a free Piano Chord Chart for download here.
Contents
Exotic Piano Scales Cheat Sheet (Free Download)
Here are the 10 most useful exotic piano scales, in C.
Arabic (Major Locrian)
The Arabic scale is commonly used in Arabic music, hence the name – Arabic scale. It’s one of a few scales that are usually used to get this type of sound, and its real name is: Major Locrian.
You can also use the Dimished scale for Arabic sounding music, but the Arabic (major locrian), is far more commonly used for this sound.
Scale spelling: R, W, W, H, H, W, W, W (w = whole, h = half)
Intervals: 1, 2, 3, 4, b5, b6, b7
All possible keys:
C – C, D, E, F, Gb Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E#, F#, G, A, B, C# or Db, Eb, F, Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D – D, E, F#, G, Ab, Bb, C, B, D
D#/Eb – D#, F, G, G#, A, B, C#, D# or Eb, F, G, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb
E – E, F#, G#, A, Bb, C, D, E
F – F, G, A, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb – F#, G#, A#, B, C, D, E, F# or Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Dbb (C), Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G – G, A, B, C, Db, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B# (C), C#, D, E, F#, G# or Ab, Bb, C, Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A – A, B, C#, D, Eb, F, G, A
A#/Bb – A#, B# (C), C## (D), D#, E, F#, G#, A# or Bb, C, D, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb
B – B, C#, D#, E, F, G, A, B
Diminished
The diminished scale is used for exactly what it’s sounds like it’s used for – playing over diminished chords and sounding good. It’s a fantastic scale for creating weird, wonky, dark trap music.
It’s a symmetrical scale that’s built from alternating whole steps and half steps.
Scale spelling: Root, Whole, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Half
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, b5, b6, 6, 7
All possible keys:
C – C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, A, B, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E, F#, G, A, A#, C, C# or Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, G, A, Bb, C, Db
D – D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D
D#/Eb – D#, F, F#, G#, A, B, C, D, D# or Eb, F, Gb, Ab, A, B, C, D, EB
E – E, F#, G, A, Bb, C, C#, D#, E
F – F, G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D, E, F
F#/Gb – F#, G#, A, B, C, D, D#, F, F# or Gb, Ab, A, B, C, D, Eb, F, Gb
G – G, A, Bb, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B, C#, D, E, F, G, G# or Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, D, E, F, G, Ab
A – A, B, C, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, A
A#/Bb – A#, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A, A# or Bb, C, Db, Eb, E, Gb, G, A, Bb
B – B, C#, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, B
Egyptian
The Egyptian scale is a pentatonic scale that’s used in Egyptian music. It’s fantastic if you’re looking for a Middle Eastern-esque melody, or want to use it to solo over the top of some chords. This is the most common Egyptian scale.
You might find other scales out there that are also labelled as “Egyptian”.
Scale spelling: Root, Whole, Whole + a half, Whole, Whole + a half, Whole
Intervals: 1, 2, 4, 5, b7
All possible keys:
C: C, D, F, G, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, F#, G#, B, C# / Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, B, Db
D: D, E, G, A, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, F, G#, A#, C#, D# / Eb, F, Ab, Bb, Db, Eb
E: E, F#, A, B, D, E
F: F, G, A#, C, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, B, C#, E, F# / Gb, Ab, B, Db, E, Gb
G: G, A, C, D, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, C#, D#, F#, G# / Ab, Bb, Db, Eb, Gb, Ab
A: A, B, D, E, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, C, D#, F, G#, A# / Bb, C, Eb, F, Ab, Bb
B: B, C#, E, F#, A, B
Geez (Aeolian Mode)
Geez is an Ethiopian scale that gives a feeling of sentiment & tragic events. It’s identical to the Aeolian Greek Mode, and can be used to create interesting & unique melodies over minor chord progressions, or ethnic sounding music.
Scale spelling: Root, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
All possible keys:
C – C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#
D – D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb – Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb
E – E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E
F – F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F#/G – F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F#
G – G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#
A – A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
A#/Bb – Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B – B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B
Hungarian
The Hungarian minor scale is a really common scale used in Trap music to create, dark and intriguing melodies that are different. Throughout history it’s been used in Indian music, Hungarian music and can be found in genres like: Pop, Rock & Classical.
It’s a very similar scale to the Harmonic minor, (which is also great), but has a different note on the 4th degree (4th note in sequence).
C – C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, B, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E, F## (G), G#, A, B# (C), C# or Db, Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab, Bbb (A), C, Db
D – D, E, F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D
D#/Eb – D#, E# (F), F#, G## (A), A#, B, C## (D), D# or Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb
E – E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D#, E
F – F, G, Ab, B, C, Db, E, F
F#/Gb – F#, G#, A, B# (C), C#, D, E# (F), F# or Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), C, Db, Ebb (D), F, Gb
G – G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F#, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B, C## (D), D#, E, F## (G), G# or Ab, Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab
A – A, B, C, D#, E, F, G#, A
A#/Bb – A#, B# (C), C#, D## (E), E# (F), F#, G## (A), A# or Bb, C, Db, E, F, Gb, A, Bb
B – B, C#, D, E# (F), F#, G, A#, B
Hirajoshi
The Hirajoshi scale is a Japanese pentatonic scale that’s great for getting Japanese sounding melodies or solos.
Scale spelling: Root, Whole, Half, Quadra-step, Half, Quadra-step
Intervals: 1, 2, 3b, 5, 6b
All possible keys:
C – C, D, Eb, G, Ab, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E, G#, A, C# or Db, Eb, Fb (E), Ab, Bbb (A), Db
D – D, E, F, A, Bb, D
D#/Eb – D#, E# (F), F#, A#, B, D# or Eb, F, Gb, Bb, Cb (B), Eb
E – E, F#, G, B, C, E
F – F, G, Ab, C, Db, F
F#/Gb – F#, G#, A, C#, D, F# or Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Db, Ebb (D), Gb
G – G, A, Bb, D, Eb, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B, D#, E, G# or Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Eb, Fb (E), Ab
A – A, B, C, E, F, A
A#/Bb – A#, B# (C), C#, E# (F), F#, A# or Bb, C, Db, F, Gb, Bb
B – B, C#, D, F#, G, B
Iwato
The Iwato scale is another Japanese pentatonic scale, which is fantastic for creating melodies for Ethnic or modal music.
Scale spelling: Root, Quadra-step, Half, Quadra-step, Whole
Intervals: 1, 2b, 4, 5b, 7b
All possible keys:
C: C, Db, F, Gb, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D, F#, G, B, C# / Db, D, Gb, Abb (G), B, Db
D: D, Eb, G, Ab, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, G#, A, C#, D# / Eb, Fb (E), Ab, Bbb (A), Db, Eb
E: E, F, A, Bb, D, E
F: F, Gb, Bb, B, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, B, C, E, F# / Gb, Abb (G), B, C, E, Gb
G: G, Ab, C, Db, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, C#, D, F#, G# / Ab, A, Db, Ebb (D), Gb, Ab
A: A, B, D, Eb, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, D#, E, G#, A#/ Bb, B, Eb, Fb (E), Ab, Bb
B: B, C, E, F, A, B
Persian
The Persian Scale is an excellent major-sounding, Middle Eastern scale that can be used for happy and upbeat melodies/improvisation.
Definitely worth using for things like Jazz, RnB, HipHop etc.
Scale spelling: Root, Half, Whole + Half, Half, Whole, Half, Whole + Half
Intervals: 1, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6b, 7
All possible keys:
C – C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, B
C# – C#, D, F, F#, G, A, C
D – D, D#, F#, G, G#, A#, C#
D# – D#, E, G, G#, A, B, D
E – E, F, G#, A, A#, C, D#
F – F, F#, A, A#, B, C#, E
F# – F#, G, A#, B, C, D, F
G – G, G#, B, C, C#, D#, F#
G# – G#, A, C, C#, D, E, G
A – A, A#, C#, D, D#, F, G#
A# – A#, B, D, D#, E, F#, A
B – B, C, D#, E, F, G, A#
Romanian Minor
The Romanian minor is a minor scale that gives a feeling of sadness & melancholy. It’s great for creating, sad, dark or twisted melodies, and can sounds somewhat folk-y. It’s commonly used in Romanian Gypsy music, so if you’re looking for a sad, exotic scale for your melodies, this could be the answer to your prayers!
Scale spelling: Root, Whole, Half, Whole and a half, Half, Whole, Half, Whole
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, b5, 5, 6, b7
All possible keys:
C – C, D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C
C#/Db – C#, D#, E, G, G#, A#, B, C# or Db, Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db
D – D, E, F, G#, A, B, C, D
D#/Eb – D#, E# (F), F#, G## (A), A#, B# (C), C#, D# or Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb
E – E, F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, E
F – F, G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F
F#/Gb – F#, G#, A, B# (C), C#, D#, E, F# or Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), C, Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb
G – G, A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G
G#/Ab – G#, A#, B, C## (D), D#, E# (F), F#, G# or Ab, Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab
A – A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A
A#/Bb – A#, B# (C), C#, D## (E), E# (F), F## (G), G#, A# or Bb, C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb
B – B, C#, D, F, F#, G#, A, B
Spanish Gypsy (Phrygian Dominant)
Phrygian scales are perfect for Trap music! And, the Spanish Gypsy scale is just another name for the Phrygian Dominant (because it’s used a lot in Spanish Gypsy music *shock*).
The Spanish Gypsy scale is perfect for Flamenco style music, and is also found in Turkish as well as some Rock and some pop. If you want to add a bit of zest to your melodies, then this is the scale to use!
Scale spelling: Half, Whole and a half, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Intervals: 1, 2b, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
All possible keys:
C – C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db – C#, D, E# (F), F#, G#, A, B, C# or Db, Ebb (D), F, Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D – D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb – D#, E, F## (G), G#, A#, B, C#, D# or Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb
E – E, F, G#, A, B, C, D, E
F – F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb – F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, E, F# or Gb, Abb (G), Bb, Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G – G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab – G#, A, B# (C), C#, D#, E, F#, G# or Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A – A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G, A
A#/Bb – A#, B, C## (D), D#, F, F#, G#, A# or Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B – B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A, B
Exotic Piano Scales Chart (Free Download)
As a thanks for reading this far, you can grab the free download below!
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Finishing Up
So now you know 10 more scales, in 7 keys – that’s a total of 70 new scales you can use in your music production sessions! These scales are incredible for Trap music, or creating unique and interesting melodies for any genre.
Use them to solo over pieces or draw them in MIDI to start creating melodies using them!
