A Double Harmonic Major Scale

What is the A Double Harmonic Major Scale?

The double harmonic major scale (also called the Byzantine scale) features two augmented 2nd intervals, giving it an intensely exotic, ornamental sound. Its roots span Middle Eastern maqam traditions, Indian raga, and Byzantine liturgical chant — a truly global scale that sounds dramatic the moment you play it. Here's how the A Double Harmonic Major Scale lays out on the fretboard.

Notes and Positions

Two augmented seconds; exotic and dramatic. On bass, the fretboard view helps you visualize where the important tones sit for building lines across positions. Use a finger-per-fret approach first, then add shifts only when the line needs a wider range. In the key of A, the notes are: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#.

How to Use It

You'll often hear it in Middle Eastern, Romani, and Metal. A good way to internalize the sound is to sing the root, then sing a few scale degrees before you play them.

Start with the root on beat 1, add the 5th on beat 3, then work the other scale tones in as passing notes. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.