A Souzinak Guitar Scale

A Souzinak Scale — Notes and Intervals

The A 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 Guitar, its notes are A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G. 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: A, B, C, D#, E, F#, G

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 A 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 A Souzinak on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 5 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 open position using open A string.

The A Souzinak scale contains 2 sharps (D#, F#). 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 Souzinak 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 Souzinak 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.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, try playing the A Souzinak 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 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 A Harmonic minor scale

• A Dorian #4
• A Hijaz
• A Hijazkiar
• A Hungarian minor

The A Souzinak scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C, D#, E, 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 Souzinak

The A 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.

Explore A Souzinak Further

• Harmonize the A Souzinak scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• A Souzinak on Ukulele
• A Souzinak on Bass
• A Souzinak on Piano

Explore A Souzinak in Other Tunings

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

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