A# Hijaz Guitar Scale

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 Guitar, 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 Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 6 on the 6th (low E) to find your A# root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 1st fret on the A string.

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

Practice the A# Hijaz scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.

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 turkish contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, try playing the A# Hijaz scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs. 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

• A# Phrygian dominant
• A# Hijazkiar
• A# Ousak
• A# Souzinak

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 Guitar 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 Ukulele
• A# Hijaz on Bass
• A# Hijaz on Piano

Explore A# Hijaz in Other Tunings

• A# Hijaz in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• A# Hijaz in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• A# Hijaz in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• A# Hijaz in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• A# Hijaz in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• A# Hijaz in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• A# Hijaz in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• A# Hijaz in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• A# Hijaz in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• A# Hijaz in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• A# Hijaz in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• A# Hijaz in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• A# Hijaz in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• A# Hijaz in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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