A Double Harmonic Major Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
A Double Harmonic Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Double Harmonic Major scale, commonly known as the Byzantine scale, is a perfectly balanced seven-note scale. On Bass, it contains the notes A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#. It offers an extreme exotic tension with two augmented seconds, used to create iconic surf-rock and Middle Eastern themes. Commonly used in Middle Eastern, Surf Rock, Metal, Film Scores. Notable players include Dick Dale, Rainbow, Marty Friedman. Use over major chords in Middle Eastern and surf rock contexts. The b2 and b6 add exotic color to an otherwise major framework.
Notes: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-WH-H-W-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: gypsy
Musical Character
Contains two augmented 2nd intervals placed symmetrically, giving it a perfectly balanced exotic tension. Dick Dale used it to create the iconic surf rock 'Misirlou' guitar tone.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Middle Eastern, Surf Rock, Metal, Film Scores
Notable players: Dick Dale, Rainbow, Marty Friedman
How to Use the A Double Harmonic Major Scale
Use over major chords in Middle Eastern and surf rock contexts. The b2 and b6 add exotic color to an otherwise major framework.
Origin & Background
Also called the Byzantine or Arabic scale. Used in Misirlou (Dick Dale) and across Middle Eastern, Greek, and Indian classical traditions.
How to Play A Double Harmonic Major on Bass
On bass, locate A on the E string at fret 5. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The A Double Harmonic Major scale contains both sharps and flats (2 sharps, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. Its relative minor is F minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the A Double Harmonic Major scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C#, Bb-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Double Harmonic Major scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in film scores contexts.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the A Double Harmonic Major scale to build walking bass lines by targeting chord tones on strong beats and using scale tones as approach notes. This is the foundation of functional bass playing. Aim for a exotic quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The A Double Harmonic Major scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Double Harmonic Major
The A Double Harmonic Major scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.