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Scale · 7 notes

G Double Harmonic Scale

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

CDGBE♭F♯A♭

Purple = G (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215F♯GA♭BCDE♭F♯GBCDE♭F♯GA♭BCDE♭F♯GA♭BCDE♭GA♭BCDE♭F♯GA♭BCDE♭F♯GA♭BCDF♯GA♭BCDE♭F♯G

Blue = G (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the G Double Harmonic scale

DegreeNoteName
1GTonic
♭2A♭Supertonic
3BMediant
4CSubdominant
5DDominant
♭6E♭Submediant
7F♯Leading tone

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

G 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 G Double Harmonic scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
IGGmaj7
IIA♭A♭maj7
iiiBmBm7
ivCmCm(maj7)
VDD7
VI+E♭+E♭7♯5
vii°F♯°F♯°7

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

How to practise the G 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 G Double Harmonic scale?

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

What is the formula for the G 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 G Double Harmonic scale?

Built from the scale in triads: G, A♭, Bm, Cm, D, E♭+, F♯°.

More G scales

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