A Ousak Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagramBeginner
What chords fit over A Ousak?
Open A Ousak HarmonizerA Ousak Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Ousak scale is the most fundamental dromos in Greek Rebetiko music, corresponding to the Phrygian mode and providing the essential darkened quality that defines the sound of bouzouki. On Ukulele, it contains the notes A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G. Its simplicity makes it the first mode learned by aspiring Greek folk musicians, yet its expressive depth has sustained countless masterpieces of the tavern music tradition. Commonly used in Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Laiko. Notable players include Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis. Use over minor chords, particularly emphasizing the 1st, 4th, and b7th degrees. The standard harmonic framework for Greek folk songs in the Ousak dromos uses i, iv, and bVII chords.
Notes: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
The Greek folk version of Phrygian. The simplest and most common dromos in Rebetiko, its b2 provides the essential darkened quality that defines the sound of bouzouki music.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Greek Folk, Rebetiko, Turkish, Laiko
Notable players: Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis
How to Use the A Ousak Scale
Use over minor chords, particularly emphasizing the 1st, 4th, and b7th degrees. The standard harmonic framework for Greek folk songs in the Ousak dromos uses i, iv, and bVII chords.
Origin & Background
The most fundamental dromos in Greek Rebetiko and Laiko music, corresponding to the Phrygian mode. The name derives from the Turkish makam Ussak. It forms the melodic backbone of countless bouzouki songs from the golden age of Rebetiko.
How to Play A Ousak on Ukulele
On ukulele, find A on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The A Ousak scale contains 1 flat (Bb). 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 Ousak scale ascending and descending at 60 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (A-C, Bb-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Exotic scales like the Ousak 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 laiko contexts.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the A Ousak scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound. Aim for a melancholic quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Ousak is the 3rd mode of the Major scale. View A Major scale
The A Ousak scale contains 7 notes (A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Ukulele 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 Ousak
The A Ousak 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 Ousak Further
- Harmonize the A Ousak scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Ousak on Guitar
- A Ousak on Bass
- A Ousak on Piano