STRINGSCALES

B double harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

A string: A#, B, C, D#, E, F#, G at frets 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10

D string: D#, E, F#, G, A#, B, C at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

G string: G, A#, B, C, D#, E, F#, G at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

B string: B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A#, B at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

High E string: E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D#, E at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

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B 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:

B

I

Bmaj
C

bII

Cmaj
D♯

iii

D♯m
E

iv

Em
F♯

V

F#maj♭5
G

bVI+

Gaug
A♯

VII

C7no5/A♯

Same notes, different mode

B 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.

E hungarian minorF# oriental

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

tip
  • The two augmented 2nds (bII (C) to III and bVI (G) to VII) define B double harmonic; practice crossing those gaps smoothly instead of skipping them.
  • Riff on the bII (C) to root resolution over a drone on B: 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 (C) and VII as chords over a B pedal for instant Balkan and Middle Eastern cadences.

How to play B double harmonic major on guitar

Open B is a root, so the second string can drone under everything the fretting hand does. Both E strings sit a fourth from the tonic and open G supplies the minor sixth, which lets four strings ring in key. Chord I is BM, and fretted roots are fret 7 on both E strings, fret 2 on the A, fret 9 on the D and fret 4 on the G. First box is over at fret 11.

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