Also written Byzantine
A gypsy major contains A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F, and G♯. Its Box 1 root on the 6th string, 5th fret anchors the pattern for quick access to the ♭2 and major 7th.
A gypsy major is A phrygian dominant with the ♭7 raised to a major 7th. The scale keeps the ♭2, major 3rd, and ♭6, but the leading tone G♯ replaces G. Compare it with A phrygian dominant to hear the difference. The tritone between B♭ and E and the augmented fifth from A to F give the scale its tension.
A gypsy major fits A major and A 5th chords, especially in metal and flamenco. The ♭2 and ♭6 also work over A major progressions that borrow from phrygian. Use it for dramatic runs or cadences resolving to A.
Learn Box 1 first; its root on the 6th string, 5th fret anchors the pattern and covers frets 0–3 for easy access to the ♭2 and major 7th.
A gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F on the high e string at fret 1. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1 | E, F |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 3 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3 | C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1 | E, F |
A gypsy major in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6 | A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7 | C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6 | E, F |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6 | A, B♭ |
A gypsy major in box 3 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12 | G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12 | C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10 | E, F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
A gypsy major, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 0 to fret 5, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 0, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 4 | E, F, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 4 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 3 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 5 | C♯, D, E |
| 1 (e) | 1, 4, 5 | F, G♯, A |
A gypsy major, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭6 and runs from fret 1 to fret 6, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 4, 5 | F, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 1, 4, 5 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 6 | E, F, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 6 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 5, 6 | D, E, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6 | G♯, A, B♭ |
A gypsy major, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 7 and runs from fret 3 to fret 9, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 7 | C♯, D, E |
| 4 (D) | 3, 6, 7 | F, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 3, 6, 7 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 9 | E, F, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 9 | A, B♭, C♯ |
A gypsy major, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 5 to fret 10, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 9 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 9 | C♯, D, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9, 10 | F, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 6, 9, 10 | B♭, C♯, D |
A gypsy major, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭2 and runs from fret 6 to fret 12, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 9, 10 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 11 | E, F, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8, 11 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
A gypsy major, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 3 and runs from fret 8 to fret 14, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 5 (A) | 8, 11, 12 | F, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 8, 11, 12 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 13 | E, F, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 14 | A, B♭, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
A gypsy major, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 4 and runs from fret 10 to fret 16, three notes on each of 6 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13 | G♯, A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 14 | C♯, D, E |
| 3 (G) | 10, 13, 14 | F, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 14, 15 | B♭, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 12, 13, 16 | E, F, G♯ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
A gypsy major uses A, B♭, C♯, D, E, F, and G♯. The scale has a minor 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, augmented 5th, and major 7th. It is also called Byzantine.
A gypsy major works over A major and A 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭6 create tension that resolves to the tonic. Try it over an A drone for a Middle Eastern sound.
A gypsy major raises the ♭7 of A phrygian dominant to a major 7th. This changes G to G♯, creating a leading tone. The rest of the scale remains the same.