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Scale · 7 notes

B♭ Double Harmonic Scale

B♭ Double Harmonic is a 7-note scale with the notes B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A. It sounds two augmented seconds around a major third and fifth: the Byzantine or Arabic scale, intense and exotic.

DFAC♭E♭G♭B♭

Purple = B♭ (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every B♭ double harmonic note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215FG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FAB♭C♭DE♭FG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FG♭AB♭C♭DFG♭AB♭C♭DE♭FG♭

Blue = B♭ (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the B♭ Double Harmonic scale

DegreeNoteName
1B♭Tonic
♭2C♭Supertonic
3DMediant
4E♭Subdominant
5FDominant
♭6G♭Submediant
7ALeading tone

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A.

B♭ Double Harmonic scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is H – W+H – H – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7.

Chords in the B♭ Double Harmonic scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
IB♭B♭maj7
IIC♭C♭maj7
iiiDmDm7
ivE♭mE♭m(maj7)
VFF7
VI+G♭+G♭7♯5
vii°A°A°7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the B♭ Double Harmonic scale

Learn it as a variation of a scale you know and listen for the augmented second, the big step that gives it the sound. Play it over a drone on the root to hear the colour before you write with it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the B♭ Double Harmonic scale?

The notes of the B♭ Double Harmonic scale are B♭ C♭ D E♭ F G♭ A.

What is the formula for the B♭ Double Harmonic scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is H – W+H – H – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7.

What chords are in the B♭ Double Harmonic scale?

Built from the scale in triads: B♭, C♭, Dm, E♭m, F, G♭+, A°.

More B♭ scales

B♭ Major, B♭ Natural Minor, B♭ Harmonic Minor, B♭ Melodic Minor, B♭ Dorian, B♭ Phrygian, B♭ Lydian, B♭ Mixolydian, B♭ Locrian, B♭ Major Pentatonic, B♭ Minor Pentatonic, B♭ Blues, B♭ Lydian Dominant, B♭ Whole Tone, B♭ Dorian ♭2, B♭ Lydian Augmented, B♭ Mixolydian ♭6, B♭ Locrian ♯2, B♭ Phrygian Dominant, B♭ Hungarian Minor, B♭ Diminished (W–H), B♭ Diminished (H–W), B♭ Bebop Dominant, B♭ Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.