C
Notes: C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, B, C
Byzantine Scale
The Byzantine Scale, also known as the Double Harmonic Scale, has a configuration that produces an exotic sound. What characterizes this scale are the whole and a half semi-step intervals between the second and third as well as the sixth and seventh notes (see interval pattern below).
The easiest way to learn the Byzantine scales is probably by comparing them with the Major scales. The only differences are the second and sixth notes which both are lowered.
C# / Db
Notes: C#, D, F, F#, G#, A, C, C#
D
Notes: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C#, D
D# /Eb
Notes: D#, E, G, G#, A#, B, D, D#
E
Notes: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D#, E
F
Notes: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, E, F
F# / Gb
Notes: F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, F, F#
G
Notes: G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F#, G
G# / Ab
Notes: G#, A, C, C#, D#, E, G, G#
A
Notes: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#, A
A# / Bb
Notes: Bb, B, D, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb
B
Notes: B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A#, B
Byzantine Scales overview
C: C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, B, C
C#/Db: C#, D, E# (F), F#, G#, A, C, C# / Db, Ebb (D), F, Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), C, Db
D: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C#, D
D#: D#, E, F## (G), G#, A#, B, C## (D), D# / Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb
E: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D#, E
F: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, E, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, E# (F), F# / Gb, Abb (G), Bb, B, Db, D, F, Gb
G: G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F#, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, C, C#, D#, E, G, G# / Ab, Bbb (A), C, Db, Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab
A: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G#, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, C## (D), D#, F, F#, G## (A), A# / Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb
B: B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A#, B
Intervals: 1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Semi-notes: 1 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1
Formula: Half, Whole and a half, Half, Whole, Half, Whole and a half, Half
The Byzantine scales in musical notation are available in the member area.
The scale in all keys can be downloaded as PDF.
There are also several modes of the Byzantine Scale.