Double harmonic scale

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In music, the double harmonic major scale[1] is a scale whose gaps evoking "exotic" music to Western listeners. This is also known as the Gypsy, Arabic and [1][2] the Byzantine scale.

The sequence of steps comprising the Byzantine scale is:

Or, in relation to the tonic note:

  • flat 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th and 5th, minor 6th, major 7th.

However, this scale is commonly represented with the first and last half step each being represented as a quarter tone. The non-quarter tone form is identical to the Indian Thaat named Bhairav.

C Arabic scale: C-Db-E-F-G-Ab-B

The Byzantine scale is arrived at by either:

It is referred to as the double harmonic scale because it contains two augmented seconds/minor thirds, while the harmonic scale contains only that between the sixth and seventh degrees:

C Arabic scale: augmented second between degrees 2-3 and 6-7

The Arabic scale is uncommonly used in Western music, as it does not closely follow any of the basic musical modes, nor is it easily derived from them. It also does not easily fit into common Western chord progressions. However, the Arabic scale (in the key of E) was used in Nikolas Roubanis's Misirlou and the Arabic scale is sometimes used in heavy metal guitar solos[citation needed]. It is popular in India[2].

Contents

[edit] Modes

Like all other heptonic scales, the double harmonic scale has a mode for each of its individual scale degrees. The most commonly known of these modes is the 4th mode, the Hungarian gypsy scale, most similar to the harmonic minor scale with a raised 4th degree.

[edit] Relationship to Phrygian major (Jewish scale)

The nearest other existing scale to the Byzantine scale is the phrygian dominant scale. The Byzantine scale can be made from a Phrygian Dominant scale by sharpening its 7th degree.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ a b c Stetina, Troy (1999). The Ultimate Scale Book, p.59. ISBN 0793597889.
  2. ^ a b Christiansen, Mike (2003). Mel Bay Complete Guitar Scale Dictionary, p.43. ISBN 0786669942.

[edit] See also

Musical scales by edit
# | pentatonic | hexatonic | heptatonic | octatonic | chromatic
Types | Altered | Bebop | Diatonic scale | Enharmonic | Jazz scale | Minor scale
Name | Acoustic | Blues | Bohlen-Pierce | Diatonic | Double harmonic | Half diminished | Harmonic major | Lydian dominant | Major | Major locrian | Pelog | Phrygian dominant scale | Slendro
"Ethnic" name | Arabic | Gypsy | Jewish
Modes of the diatonic scale edit
Ionian (I) | Dorian (II) | Phrygian (III)
Lydian (IV) | Mixolydian (V) | Aeolian (VI) | Locrian (VII)
Modes of the melodic minor scale edit
Melodic minor (I) | Dorian b2 (II) | Lydian Augmented (III)
Lydian Dominant (IV) | Mixolydian b13(V) | Locrian #2 (VI) | | Altered (VII)