A Hijaz Piano Scale
Piano scale 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 Piano, it contains the notes A, Bb, C#, D, E, 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, Bb, C#, D, E, 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 Piano
On piano, the A Hijaz scale uses 2 black keys. Start with your thumb on A and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The A Hijaz scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. 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 A Hijaz 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 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 greek folk contexts.
Piano Tips
At the piano, try voicing the A Hijaz scale in the left hand as blocked intervals (thirds or sixths) while the right hand plays the melody. This develops your harmonic ear and comping skills simultaneously. 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, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Piano. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.