A Bizantine Scale and the Open A String
The A Bizantine scale contains A, Bb, C#, D, E, F and G#. The open A, D and E strings belong to it, which makes it comfortable to explore.
On the low E string the root is the 5th fret. Bb to C# is the first augmented second and F to G# the second one. Isolate those two jumps and the scale starts to sound Middle Eastern very quickly.
Play the A bizantine scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the A bizantine scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root | 0 |
| Bb | b2 | Minor 2nd | 1 |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| D | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| F | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| G# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
A bizantine scale notes:
How the bizantine scale is built:
The bizantine scale is built from the degrees 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 7, which gives the step pattern H-W+H-H-W-H-W+H-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is also known as Double Harmonic Major, Hijaz Kar and Byzantine.
A Bizantine Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (A)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the A bizantine scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as A Bizantine
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| D Gipsy Hungarian | 4 | Gipsy Hungarian Scale |
Other scales on A
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- A Persian: b5 instead of 5
- A Arabic: shares 4 notes
- A Indian: drops the 3 and 7
- A Harmonic Major: 2 instead of b2
- A Phrygian Dominant: b7 instead of 7
The bizantine scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
