Chord Colors

A♯ Double Harmonic Major scale

About the A sharp Double Harmonic Major scale

A sharp Double Harmonic Major is used for Byzantine, Arabic and Middle Eastern music and dramatic film cues. Think of it as the Byzantine scale, two big steps and a stately, ancient sound. It is A Harmonic Major with the second lowered.

Its notes are A, B, C♯♯, D, E, F, and G♯♯. The formula is H 1½ H W H 1½ H.

Also called Byzantine and Bhairav.

Learn more about the A♯ Double Harmonic Major scale

A Double Harmonic Major draws three black keys from the piano, A, D, and F.

Notes and intervals

1A#A♯Root
2BBMinor 2nd
3C##C♯♯Major 3rd
4D#D♯Perfect 4th
5E#E♯Perfect 5th
6F#F♯Minor 6th
7G##G♯♯Major 7th
StepsH 1½ H W H 1½ H
Semitones1-3-1-2-1-3-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules

Hand A sharpBC double sharpD sharpE sharpF sharpG double sharpA sharp
Right hand41231234
Left hand32143213

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Double Harmonic Major in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Bb Double Harmonic Major scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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