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<h1>Double Harmonic Scale</h1>
<p>The double harmonic scale (also called Byzantine scale, Arabic scale, or Gypsy major) has two augmented seconds — one between the 1st and 2nd degrees, one between the 5th and 6th. Both are characteristic of harmonic minor, but here both appear in the same scale simultaneously. The result is intensely exotic, with a strongly Middle Eastern or Byzantine character. It's rarer than harmonic minor or Phrygian dominant, but when you hear it, there's no mistaking it.</p>

<h2>Construction</h2>
<pre>
C double harmonic:
C  D♭  E  F  G  A♭  B  C

Formula:      1  ♭2  3  4  5  ♭6  7
Step pattern: H  A2  H  W  H  A2  H

A2 = augmented second (3 semitones).
Two A2 intervals:
  1st: between D♭ and E (♭2 → major 3rd)
  2nd: between A♭ and B (♭6 → major 7th)

Both create the "leaping" sound characteristic of Middle Eastern melody.
</pre>

<h2>Double Harmonic in Common Keys</h2>

<table>
  <thead><tr><th>Key</th><th>Notes</th><th>The two aug. 2nds</th></tr></thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr><td>C double harmonic</td><td>C D♭ E F G A♭ B</td><td>D♭→E and A♭→B</td></tr>
    <tr><td>G double harmonic</td><td>G A♭ B C D E♭ F#</td><td>A♭→B and E♭→F#</td></tr>
    <tr><td>D double harmonic</td><td>D E♭ F# G A B♭ C#</td><td>E♭→F# and B♭→C#</td></tr>
    <tr><td>A double harmonic</td><td>A B♭ C# D E F G#</td><td>B♭→C# and F→G#</td></tr>
    <tr><td>E double harmonic</td><td>E F G# A B C D#</td><td>F→G# and C→D#</td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<h2>Sound and Character</h2>
<p>Intensely exotic and ornamental. To ears trained on major and minor scales, both augmented seconds create a "lurching" quality — the melody doesn't flow evenly but leaps across wide gaps at two points in the scale. This is not a flaw; in the traditions where this scale originates, the leaps are the point. They invite vocal slides, ornaments, and melismatic decoration. The scale sounds like music designed for expression and embellishment.</p>

<h2>Comparison with Related Scales</h2>

<table>
  <thead><tr><th>Scale (from C)</th><th>Notes</th><th>Aug. 2nd(s)</th><th>Character</th></tr></thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr><td>Natural minor</td><td>C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭</td><td>None</td><td>Smooth, standard minor</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Harmonic minor</td><td>C D E♭ F G A♭ B</td><td>One (A♭→B)</td><td>Exotic with leading tone</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Phrygian dominant</td><td>C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭</td><td>One (D♭→E)</td><td>Spanish/flamenco dominant</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Double harmonic</td><td>C D♭ E F G A♭ B</td><td>Two (D♭→E and A♭→B)</td><td>Doubly exotic — maximum Middle Eastern character</td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<h2>Cultural Origins</h2>
<p>The double harmonic scale appears in multiple non-Western traditions under different names:</p>

<table>
  <thead><tr><th>Tradition</th><th>Name</th><th>Context</th></tr></thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr><td>Byzantine/Greek Orthodox</td><td>Byzantine scale / First mode of the Byzantine church</td><td>Liturgical chant and traditional Byzantine music</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Arabic / Turkish maqam</td><td>Maqam Hijaz Kar (extended Hijaz)</td><td>Modal improvisation and composed melody</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Indian classical</td><td>Bhairav raga (similar structure)</td><td>Morning raga with similar intervallic quality</td></tr>
    <tr><td>Hungarian / Romani</td><td>"Hungarian major" or "Gypsy major"</td><td>Folk and Romani music in Eastern Europe</td></tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<h2>Symmetry</h2>
<p>The double harmonic scale is symmetric around the tritone — the lower tetrachord (C D♭ E F) mirrors the upper tetrachord (G A♭ B C). This means the scale built on the note a tritone above the root (F# for C) uses the same scale tones. This is the same tritone relationship that makes tritone substitution in jazz work — both the tonic and its tritone partner share the same harmonic DNA in this scale.</p>
<pre>
C double harmonic: C D♭ E F G A♭ B C
Lower half (C to F): C D♭ E F  (H - A2 - H)
Upper half (G to C): G A♭ B C  (H - A2 - H)  ← same pattern

The G-A♭-B-C pattern is a transposed mirror of C-D♭-E-F.
This symmetry means the scale contains two diminished seventh chords
(Cdim7 and F#dim7) and two major triads (C and G).
</pre>

<h2>In Western Music</h2>
<p>The double harmonic scale occasionally surfaces in film scores for "exotic" settings and in metal. The riff from "War Nerve" by Pantera uses intervals strongly suggestive of the scale. In flamenco, the scale appears in certain forms where both the ♭2 and the major 7th are used melodically. Béla Bartók incorporated it into some of his works alongside Hungarian folk modes.</p>

<h2>References</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Levine — <em>The Jazz Theory Book</em></li>
  <li>Touma — <em>The Music of the Arabs</em></li>
  <li><a href="https://www.musictheory.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">musictheory.net ↗</a></li>
</ul>
