STRINGSCALES

D double harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F#, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F#, G, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

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

G string: G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb, F#, G at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

B string: C#, D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

High E string: F#, G, A, Bb, C#, D, Eb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

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D 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:

D

I

Dmaj
E♭

bII

E♭maj
F♯

iii

F♯m
G

iv

Gm
A

V

Amaj♭5
B♭

bVI+

B♭aug
C♯

VII

E♭7no5/C#

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

G hungarian minorA oriental

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

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

How to play D double harmonic major on guitar

Open D is a root, with open A a fifth above it and open G the fourth, so three middle strings ring in key untouched. Chord bVI+ is Bbaug, which means the sixth degree arrives as an augmented triad rather than a plain one. Fretted roots are fret 10 on both E strings, fret 5 on the A, fret 7 on the G and fret 3 on the B. First box gives way at fret 14.

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