Guitar UpscaleMagen Avot scale on guitar
Magen Avot is a Jewish prayer mode. This eight note version stacks half and whole steps for an unusual colour.
| Notes in A | A Bb B# C# Eb E# G G# |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 b2 #2 3 b5 #5 b7 7 |
| Steps | H W H W W W H H (W whole step, H half step) |
| Note count | 8 |
| Style in the app | Middle Eastern, scale "Magen Abot" |
Play A Magen Avot on the fretboard in Guitar Upscale
About the Magen Avot scale
The notes are root, flat 2nd, sharp 2nd, 3rd, raised 4th, raised 5th, raised 6th and 7th. Half steps cluster around the root, and whole steps fill the top.
Both a major 3rd and the flat 2nd are there, so it can sound like Phrygian dominant at the bottom and like the whole tone scale at the top.
Explore it over a drone on the root and listen for which notes want to move.
Intervals from the root
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | In A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | A |
| b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 | Bb |
| #2 | Minor 3rd | 3 | B# |
| 3 | Major 3rd | 4 | C# |
| b5 | Tritone | 6 | Eb |
| #5 | Minor 6th | 8 | E# |
| b7 | Minor 7th | 10 | G |
| 7 | Major 7th | 11 | G# |
Magen Avot in every key
| Key | Notes | Play it |
|---|---|---|
| C | C Db D# E Gb G# Bb B | Open |
| C# | C# D E E# G A B B# | Open |
| D | D Eb E# F# Ab A# C C# | Open |
| Eb | Eb Fb F# G A B Db D | Open |
| E | E F G G# Bb B# D D# | Open |
| F | F Gb G# A Cb C# Eb E | Open |
| F# | F# G A A# C D E E# | Open |
| G | G Ab A# B Db D# F F# | Open |
| G# | G# A B B# D E F# G | Open |
| A | A Bb B# C# Eb E# G G# | Open |
| Bb | Bb Cb C# D Fb F# Ab A | Open |
| B | B C D D# F G A A# | Open |