Also written Byzantine
D gypsy major uses D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭, C♯. Box 1 places the root at string 3, fret 5 for a mid-neck start.
D gypsy major is formed from D phrygian dominant by raising the seventh degree C to C♯. This introduces a leading tone and an augmented second between B♭ and C♯. See D phrygian dominant for the base scale. The formula is 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7.
D gypsy major fits over D major or D 5th chords. It suits aggressive styles like metal and progressive rock. Use it with D major or D 5th for a dark, exotic sound.
Start with Box 1: the root is on string 3, fret 5, and the pattern stays within frets 2–5. It is ideal for low-register lines and connects to Box 2 at fret 3.
D gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5 | C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5 | F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
D gypsy major in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6 | A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 8 | C♯, D, E♭ |
D gypsy major in box 3 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to G on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 10 and the D string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 12, 13 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12 | F♯, G |
D gypsy major, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 3 and runs from fret 1 to fret 6, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 5 | F♯, G, A |
| 3 (A) | 1, 4, 5 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 2 (D) | 1, 4, 5 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 6 | A, B♭, C♯ |
D gypsy major, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 4 and runs from fret 3 to fret 7, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5, 6 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5, 7 | F♯, G, A |
| 1 (G) | 3, 6, 7 | B♭, C♯, D |
D gypsy major, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 5 to fret 9, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 5 and the G string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 9 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 9 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 8 | C♯, D, E♭ |
D gypsy major, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭6 and runs from fret 6 to fret 11, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 7.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 9, 10 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 3 (A) | 6, 9, 10 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 7, 8, 11 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 11 | D, E♭, F♯ |
D gypsy major, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 8 to fret 12, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 10 and the D string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 11 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10, 12 | F♯, G, A |
| 2 (D) | 8, 11, 12 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 1 (G) | 8, 11, 12 | E♭, F♯, G |
D gypsy major, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 10 to fret 14, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 10 and the D string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 14 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 12, 13 | G, A, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 12, 13 | C♯, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | F♯, G, A |
D gypsy major, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭2 and runs from fret 11 to fret 16, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 14, 15 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13, 16 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13, 16 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 14, 15 | G, A, B♭ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
The notes are D, E♭, F♯, G, A, B♭, and C♯. The scale has a flat second, major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, flat sixth, and major seventh. It is also called Byzantine.
The tonic chord is D major or D 5th. The fifth degree chord is A 7th flat 5. Use it over dominant progressions in D.
D gypsy major has a major seventh, C♯, while D phrygian dominant has a minor seventh, C. That change creates a leading tone and a different resolution. The remaining notes are the same.