"Egyptian Scale Pattern"
Egyptian scales are tricky. This is because they do not make perfect sense according to modern day music theory. Back in ancient Egyptian days, they notated music much dfferently than you are used to seeing. They were the first civilization to write their music down into an organized system, and many of their ideas survived the eons into today. They did use lines, notes, and spaces, but they did not use much else. Modern scales and intervals weren't figured out quite yet either, and then those ideas were experimental. They did, however, have a signature cultural sound all of their own. But how do we get this ancient sound? Think past the modernized and polished interval system we have today. Give up? Well here it is!
The "scale", for lack of a better term (since scales weren't figured out by then), is made up of a root (1), a second (2), a third (3), a sharp fourth (#4), a fifth (5), a sixth (6), a sharp seventh (#7), an octave (8, same as root), and a flat ninth (b9).
The interval pattern is odd due to the fact that you move one and a half steps between the 3rd and 4th, and the 6th and 7th, and to make a full 8 note scale the flat ninth becomes the new 8th step. So the intervals are: root, whole step, half step, one and a half steps, whole step, half step, one and a half steps, half step.
Here is the pattern pictured in G:
This will take some getting used to if you want to master the Egyptian scale, but do not get discouraged! It just predates what is considered normal by today's standards, that is all! In this case, don't be afraid to abandon the rules.
Now go resurrect some ancient mummies!,
Mark McAnaney, Solo Bassist
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