A# Hijaz Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
A# Hijaz Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A# Hijaz scale is the Greek dromos equivalent of Phrygian Dominant, carrying the full weight of urban Greek longing and exile through its characteristic augmented second between the flattened second and major third. On Charango, it contains the notes A#, B, D, D#, F, F#, G#. It is the defining sound of Rebetiko tavern music, where bouzouki players use its tense intervals to narrate stories of heartbreak and resilience. Commonly used in Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Middle Eastern. Notable players include Vassilis Tsitsanis, Marika Ninou, Roza Eskenazi. Use over dominant 7th chords with b9 in Greek folk and Rebetiko contexts. Supports the characteristic I-bII vamp of tavern music.
Notes: A#, B, D, D#, F, F#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-WH-H-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
The Greek folk version of Phrygian Dominant. Its augmented 2nd between the b2 and major 3rd is the defining sound of Rebetiko tavern music, where it carries the weight of urban Greek longing and exile.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Middle Eastern
Notable players: Vassilis Tsitsanis, Marika Ninou, Roza Eskenazi
How to Use the A# Hijaz Scale
Use over dominant 7th chords with b9 in Greek folk and Rebetiko contexts. Supports the characteristic I-bII vamp of tavern music.
Origin & Background
One of the most important dromoi (modal roads) in Greek folk music, corresponding to the Phrygian Dominant mode. Central to Rebetiko, the urban folk music that emerged in Greek port cities during the early 20th century. The name derives from the Arabic/Turkish Hijaz makam.
How to Play A# Hijaz on Charango
Begin by locating A# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Hijaz scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A# Hijaz scale contains 4 sharps (A#, D#, F#, 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
Begin by playing the A# Hijaz scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A#-D, B-D#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Exotic scales like the Hijaz often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on A#. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in rebetiko contexts.
Charango Tips
Practice the A# Hijaz scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a passionate quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Hijaz is the 5th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. View A# Harmonic minor scale
The A# Hijaz scale contains 7 notes (A#, B, D, D#, F, F#, G#). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Charango 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 A# Hijaz
The A# Hijaz 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.
Explore A# Hijaz Further
- Harmonize the A# Hijaz scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A# Hijaz on Guitar
- A# Hijaz on Ukulele
- A# Hijaz on Bass
- A# Hijaz on Piano