STRINGSCALES

D♭ double harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

A string: Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 0, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: Ebb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

G string: Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Ebb, F, Gb, Ab, Bbb at frets 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Ebb at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

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Db 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

D♭maj
E𝄫

bII

E𝄫maj
F

iii

Fm
G♭

iv

G♭m
A♭

V

A♭majb5
B𝄫

bVI+

B𝄫aug
C

VII

E𝄫7no5/C

Same notes, different mode

Db 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.

Gb hungarian minorAb oriental

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

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

How to play D♭ double harmonic major on guitar

Open A sounds Bbb and open D sounds Ebb, so two strings can still ring, though neither is steady enough to hold a drone. A capo at fret 1 puts C fingerings under the hand, which means the five flats in the signature stop getting in the way. Lowest root is fret 9 on the low E, the A-shape barre sits at fret 4, and chord iv comes out as Gbm. First box quits at fret 13.

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