What is the Bb 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 Bb Double Harmonic Major Scale lays out on the fretboard. This scale is enharmonically equivalent to A# Double Harmonic Major.
Notes and Positions
Two augmented seconds; exotic and dramatic. On guitar, you can treat this as both a lead vocabulary and a way to see chord tones inside common shapes. Start with one box, then connect it to the nearest root on the next string set. In the key of Bb, the notes are: Bb, Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb, A.
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.
Practice in small fragments (3-4 notes) and connect them across adjacent positions. Use the interactive fretboard above to spot repeats of the same note on different strings and frets.