Also written Byzantine
G gypsy major uses G, A♭, B, C, D, E♭, F♯. Box 1 places the root at string 4, fret 3 for a low start.
G gypsy major is derived from G phrygian dominant by raising the seventh degree F to F♯. This alteration produces a leading tone and an augmented second between E♭ and F♯. Compare with G phrygian dominant to hear the change. The intervals are 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7.
G gypsy major works over G major or G 5th chords. It is common in metal and fusion for its exotic color. Try it over G major or G 5th progressions.
Learn Box 1 first: the root is on string 4, fret 3, and the pattern stays within frets 3–6. It is ideal for low-register lines and connects to Box 2 at fret 3.
G gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to C on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the E string at fret 3 and the D string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 4 | G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5, 6 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 5 | B, C |
G gypsy major in box 2 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 9 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10 | F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 9, 10 | B, C |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
G 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 A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11 | D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 13 | F♯, G, A♭ |
G gypsy major, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 1 to fret 5, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 3 and the D string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 4 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 3, 5 | B, C, D |
| 2 (D) | 1, 4, 5 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 1 (G) | 1, 4, 5 | A♭, B, C |
G gypsy major, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 3 to fret 7, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 3 and the D string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 4, 7 | G, A♭, B |
| 3 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5, 6 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 5, 7 | B, C, D |
G gypsy major, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭2 and runs from fret 4 to fret 9, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 7, 8 | A♭, B, C |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 9 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 6, 9 | G, A♭, B |
| 1 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
G gypsy major, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 3 and runs from fret 6 to fret 11, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
| 3 (A) | 6, 9, 10 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 2 (D) | 6, 9, 10 | A♭, B, C |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 11 | D, E♭, F♯ |
G gypsy major, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 4 and runs from fret 8 to fret 12, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10, 11 | F♯, G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 10, 12 | B, C, D |
| 1 (G) | 8, 11, 12 | E♭, F♯, G |
G gypsy major, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 10 to fret 14, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 10 and the G string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 14 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11, 14 | G, A♭, B |
| 2 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 13 | F♯, G, A♭ |
G gypsy major, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭6 and runs from fret 11 to fret 16, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 15 and the G string at fret 12.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 14, 15 | E♭, F♯, G |
| 3 (A) | 11, 14, 15 | A♭, B, C |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13, 16 | D, E♭, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 12, 13, 16 | G, A♭, B |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
The notes are G, A♭, B, C, D, E♭, and F♯. 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 G major or G 5th. The fifth degree chord is D 7th flat 5. Use it over dominant progressions in G.
G gypsy major has a major seventh, F♯, while G phrygian dominant has a minor seventh, F. That change creates a leading tone and a different resolution. The remaining notes are the same.