Ambassel scale

The Ambassel scale is a pentatonic scale widely used in the Gonder and Wollo regions of Ethiopia.

The notes of the scale (in the key of C) are C, Db, F, G and Ab. The intervals in the scale are a minor second, a major third, a major second, a minor second and a major third.

The scale is used in Ethiopian music for songs with historical themes. It can be heard used on the song 'Ambassel' by Abate Berihun and Yitzhak Yedid on their Duo Ras Dashen album.

Ege, Svein; Aspen, Harald; Teferra, Birhanu; Bekele, Shiferaw (2009), Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (PDF), Trondheim