Scales › double harmonic major (Byzantine)

double harmonic major (Byzantine) scale

Byzantine, two augmented seconds

7 notes

RC b9Db 3E 11F 5G b13Ab 7B

guide tones (3rd & 7th — the heart of the sound) avoid (strong clash)

C · Db · E · F · G · Ab · B

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What color?

The Byzantine scale: b9, 3, b13 and 7, with two symmetric augmented seconds that give it its instantly recognizable Middle Eastern flavor. You use it boldly for an exotic, theatrical Eastern color.

Origin & history

Also called the Byzantine scale or "major Gypsy" scale, it is recognizable by its two augmented seconds. It can be heard in the music of the Near East and the Balkans; it corresponds to the Hijaz Kar maqam of Arabic and Turkish music.

Which chords to play it on?

Outside the functional consensus: this is an exploration color. Lay it over a vamp or a held chord to tint your improvisation with an unexpected flavor, rather than inside a cadence.

Sibling modes

The double harmonic major (Byzantine) scale is one of the modes of the double harmonic scale : it shares exactly the same notes as the modes below, but built on a different degree of the parent scale (double harmonic major (Byzantine)).

Lydian ♯2 ♯6 exotic Lydian ♯2 ♯6 ultraphrygian diminished Phrygian bb7 Hungarian minor Hungarian minor, double augmented second Oriental Oriental, double augmented second Ionian ♯2 ♯5 exotic major ♯2 ♯5 Locrian ♭♭3 ♭♭7 doubly diminished Locrian

Try it in a real chart

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