This post is a summary of the other posts regarding the modes of the Double Harmonic Major scale (see Index to other posts at the end).
As with the Melodic Minor scale, I am trying to break away from the usual pattern-based approach to learning scales and am attempting to use a purely interval-based approach. This post just sums up the important information to help me along.
The Double Harmonic Major Scale (also known as the Byzantine Scale, Arabic Scale, or Gypsy Major) is a highly exotic and symmetrical scale that contains two augmented second intervals. It is one of the most dramatic, tense, and Middle Eastern-sounding scales, often used in flamenco, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Indian, and fusion music.
| Mode | Intervals | Chords |
| Double Harmonic Major (Byzantine Scale) |
1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7 | Maj7, Maj7♭6, Maj7♯9 Dom7♭9 as a V chord Dim7, min7♭5 |
| Lydian ♯2 ♯6 (Hungarian Major) |
1 – ♯2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – ♯6 – 7 | Maj7#5 Dim |
| Ultraphrygian (Phrygian ♭4) |
1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – ♭4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭♭7 | Min Dim |
| Double Harmonic Minor (Hungarian Minor) |
1 – 2 – ♭3 – ♯4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7 | min7, min7♯11, min♯4 Dom7alt |
| Locrian ♮3 ♮7 | 1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7 | min7♭5 Dim7 Dom7 |
| Ionian Augmented ♯2 | 1 – ♯2 – 3 – 4 – ♯5 – 6 – 7 | Maj7#5 Aug |
| Locrian ♮6 (Diminished Major) |
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – 6 – ♭7 | Dim min7♭5 |
Index to other posts
- Double Harmonic Major (Byzantine Scale)
- Lydian ♯2 ♯6 (Hungarian Major)
- Ultraphrygian (Phrygian ♭4)
- Double Harmonic Minor (Hungarian Minor)
- Locrian ♮3 ♮7
- Ionian Augmented ♯2
- Locrian ♮6 (Diminished Major)