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