The Algerian Scale is a scale frequently used in

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

n music. The frequent use of 1.5 steps (a minor 3rd) in the scale contributes to a sound commonly associated with Moorish music. Algerian scaleB

It is also defined as an eleven note scale with two augmented seconds.

Jacques Ibert Jacques François Antoine Marie Ibert (15 August 1890 – 5 February 1962) was a French composer of 20th-century classical music, classical music. Having studied music from an early age, he studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, Paris Conservatoir ...

first used this definition in ''Escales'' (1924).Robert Fink, Robert Ricci (1975). ''The Language of Twentieth Century Music: A Dictionary of Terms'', p.3. Schirmer Books. , . In India's

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

, this corresponds to

Simhendramadhyamam Simhendramadhyamam is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 57th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Sumadyuti in Muthuswami Dikshitar school ...

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. This formula gives the first octave only. In the second octave, the third step is 1 rather than 1.5, followed by a step of 1 rather than 0.5. This may be seen in images to the right. In the one on the bottom (with the three-octave spanning scale, Fischer 1996), the lower octave shows an F while the upper octave shows an F natural. This can also be notated as degrees in relation to the root note: * First octave: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 * Second octave: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 It can also be thought of as Harmonic Minor with a raised 4 in the first octave.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Algerian Scale Modes (music) Hemitonic scales Tritonic scales Musical scales with augmented seconds