The Secrets of the Double Harmonic Scale: A Musician's Guide

Introduction

Have you ever heard a piece of music that instantly transports you to a bustling bazaar, an ancient desert landscape, or a vibrant folk dance? Chances are, the composer was using a special melodic tool to create that atmosphere. One of the most powerful and evocative of these tools is the Double Harmonic Scale. While it might sound complex, this scale is a gateway to a world of new sounds, offering a rich palette of tension and resolution that can spice up your compositions, improvisations, and overall understanding of global music.

Deconstructing the Double Harmonic Scale

The Double Harmonic Scale is a seven-note scale defined by its unique intervallic pattern. Its most striking feature, and what gives it its name, is the presence of two augmented second intervals (an interval spanning three semitones). This creates its characteristic dramatic and exotic sound.

The scale formula, using scale degrees, is:

Root - minor 2nd - Major 3rd - Perfect 4th - Perfect 5th - minor 6th - Major 7th
(1 - b2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - 7)

The two augmented seconds occur between the b2 and 3, and between the b6 and 7. To visualize this, let's look at the pattern of steps (H = Half Step, W = Whole Step, A2 = Augmented Second):

H - A2 - H - W - H - A2 - H

A helpful way to understand it is to compare it to more common scales. Think of it as a Major scale with a flattened 2nd and 6th degree, or a Harmonic Minor scale with a sharpened 3rd degree.

A Scale of Many Names: History and Culture

The Double Harmonic scale's powerful sound has made it a feature in music across the globe, leading to a variety of names. Its history isn't one of a single inventor but of cultural transmission and adaptation.

• Byzantine Scale: This name references its use in the liturgical chants of the Byzantine Empire, where its solemn and dramatic character fit the religious context.
• Arabic Scale (Maqam Hijaz-Kar) : It is a fundamental part of Middle Eastern music, corresponding to the Maqam Hijaz-Kar. Maqamat are complex melodic systems, and this scale forms the basis for many traditional melodies.
• Gypsy Major Scale: The scale is prominent in Roma ("Gypsy") music traditions, particularly in Eastern Europe, where it fuels the fiery and passionate sound of the style.

In the 19th century, Western composers with a fascination for the "exotic," such as Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, began incorporating these sounds into their works. However, the figure who cemented the scale in modern popular culture was surf-rock pioneer Dick Dale. By electrifying the traditional Mediterranean folk song "Misirlou," he introduced the Double Harmonic's sound to millions.

The Scale in Action: Harmonization and Melody

The scale's unusual intervals produce a unique and tense set of chords. Harmonizing it is a great way to understand its character. The basic triads built on each degree of the C Double Harmonic Scale are:

• I Chord (C-E-G): C Major
• II Chord (Db-F-Ab): Db Major (a powerful Neapolitan chord)
• III Chord (E-G-B): E minor
• IV Chord (F-Ab-C): F minor
• V Chord (G-B-Db): G diminished (G-B is a major third, G-Db is a diminished fifth)
• VI Chord (Ab-C-E): Ab Augmented
• VII Chord (B-Db-F): B diminished

Tips for Improvisation and Composition

Ready to use the scale? Here are some practical tips to get you started:

• Embrace the Leaps: Don't shy away from the augmented second intervals. Jumping from the b2 to the 3rd (e.g., Db to E in C) or the b6 to the 7th (e.g., Ab to B) instantly creates the scale's signature sound.
• Focus on Resolutions: The scale has powerful half-step resolutions. The b2 wants to resolve down to the root (Db to C), and the major 7th wants to resolve up to the root (B to C). Use these to create tension and satisfying release.
• Use over the Right Chords: The scale works perfectly over its tonic major chord (C Major in the key of C Double Harmonic) and the Neapolitan chord (Db Major). A common and effective progression is simply moving between C and Db.
• Create Melodic Fragments: You don't have to play the whole scale up and down. Isolate small sections, like the lower group of notes (C-Db-E-F) or the upper group (G-Ab-B-C) to create compelling motifs.

Deeper Theory: Modes and Symmetry

• Symmetry: The scale is nearly symmetrical. The pattern of intervals in the bottom half (tetrachord) from C to F is H-A2-H. The pattern in the top half from G to C is also H-A2-H. This tetrachordal structure (Semitone - Augmented Second - Semitone) is a key component of its sound.
• A Mode of Hungarian Minor: The Double Harmonic scale is the 5th mode of the Hungarian Minor Scale. This means if you take the C Hungarian Minor scale (C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab, B) and start playing it from its 5th note (G), you get the G Double Harmonic scale (G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F#).
• Use in Famous Music: The most famous example is Dick Dale & His Del-Tones' surf rock anthem "Misirlou" (repopularized by Pulp Fiction). In neoclassical metal, guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen use its dramatic intervals for fast, virtuosic runs. In film scores, it's often a go-to choice to musically signify desert settings, ancient history, or magic, as heard in soundtracks for films like The Mummy and Aladdin.

Conclusion

The Double Harmonic Scale is far more than a collection of notes; it's a key that unlocks a world of expressive and dramatic musical possibilities. Its unique structure, with two augmented seconds, gives it an undeniable character that has captivated listeners for centuries, from ancient chants to modern rock. By understanding its construction, learning its unique harmonies, and exploring its melodic potential, you can add a powerful and evocative tool to your musical arsenal. We encourage you to play it, improvise with it, and listen for its distinctive sound in the music you love. How will you use the tension and release of the Double Harmonic scale in your own creations?

References:

1. Hewitt, M. (2013). Musical Scales of the World. The Note Tree.

2. Persichetti, V. (1961). Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice. W. W. Norton & Company.

3. Titon, J. T. (Ed.). (2009). Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples. Schirmer.