STRINGSCALES

A♭ double harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: Fb, G, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

A string: Bbb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

D string: Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bbb, C, Db at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb, Fb, G at frets 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

B string: C, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab, Bbb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

High E string: Fb, G, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb, Fb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

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Ab double harmonic major

The double harmonic major scale, also called the byzantine or gypsy scale, surrounds a major 3rd and 5th with half steps: flat 2nd and major 7th, flat 6th in between. Its two augmented 2nds define the sound of Misirlou and much Middle Eastern and Balkan music. Almost every note leans onto a chord tone, so even slow lines sound ornamental.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A♭

I

A♭maj
B𝄫

bII

B𝄫maj
C

iii

Cm
D♭

iv

D♭m
E♭

V

E♭majb5
F♭

bVI+

F♭aug
G

VII

B𝄫7no5/G

Same notes, different mode

Ab double harmonic major uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Db hungarian minorEb oriental

double harmonic major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The two augmented 2nds (bII (A) to III and bVI (E) to VII) define Ab double harmonic; practice crossing those gaps smoothly instead of skipping them.
  • Riff on the bII (A) to root resolution over a drone on Ab: that is the Misirlou move, and it works on one string as a slide.
  • Every non-chord tone is a half step from a chord tone, so ornament constantly: trills and mordents belong to this scale.
  • Try harmonizing root, bII (A) and VII as chords over a Ab pedal for instant Balkan and Middle Eastern cadences.

How to play A♭ double harmonic major on guitar

Four open strings belong here, the E pair spelled Fb and the A string spelled Bbb, so there is something to let ring even though none makes a stable drone. Capo at fret 1 turns this into G fingerings, which means five flats and a double flat stop being a reading problem. Lowest root is fret 4 on the low E, with fret 11 on the A, fret 6 on the D, fret 1 on the G and fret 9 on the B. Chord bVI+ is Fbaug. First box ends at fret 8, so position two owns everything higher.

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