D Souzinak Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
D Souzinak Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Souzinak scale is a Greek dromos identical to Dorian with a raised fourth, producing an intense, fiery quality that musicians describe as deep pathos beyond simple sadness. On Bass, its notes are D, E, F, G#, A, B, C. Derived from the Turkish makam Suznak, it carries connotations of bittersweet passion in Rebetiko and is essential for expressing the crying quality of Greek lament songs. Commonly used in Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Klezmer, Balkan. Notable players include Vassilis Tsitsanis, Markos Vamvakaris. Use over m7 chords with an augmented 4th color. The #4 adds the characteristic crying quality used in Greek tavern songs and laments.
Notes: D, E, F, G#, A, B, C
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7
Formula: W-H-WH-H-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
The Greek folk version of Dorian #4. The raised 4th within a Dorian framework produces an intense, fiery quality that Greek musicians describe as having deep pathos — an emotional intensity beyond simple sadness.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Klezmer, Balkan
Notable players: Vassilis Tsitsanis, Markos Vamvakaris
How to Use the D Souzinak Scale
Use over m7 chords with an augmented 4th color. The #4 adds the characteristic crying quality used in Greek tavern songs and laments.
Origin & Background
A principal dromos in Greek folk music, identical to the Dorian #4 mode (4th mode of harmonic minor). The name comes from the Turkish makam Suznak. In Rebetiko it carries connotations of intense, bittersweet passion.
How to Play D Souzinak on Bass
On bass, locate D on the A 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 D Souzinak scale contains 1 sharp (G#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D Souzinak scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Exotic scales like the Souzinak often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on D. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in balkan contexts.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the D Souzinak 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 fiery quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Souzinak is the 4th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. View D Harmonic minor scale
The D Souzinak scale contains 7 notes (D, E, F, G#, A, B, C). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Souzinak
The D Souzinak 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.