Bb Gypsy Major Scale on Ukulele: Notes, Positions

How it is built

B♭1C♭♭2D3E♭4F5G♭♭6A7

Formula 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the B♭ gypsy major scale on ukulele?

B♭ gypsy major in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	2, 3, 4	A, B♭, C♭
3 (C)	2, 3, 5	D, E♭, F
2 (E)	2, 5	G♭, A
1 (A)	2, 5	C♭, D

Box 2 · frets 5–8

B♭ gypsy major in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the E string at fret 6.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	7, 8	D, E♭
3 (C)	5, 6	F, G♭
2 (E)	5, 6, 7	A, B♭, C♭
1 (A)	5, 6, 8	D, E♭, F

Why it sounds like that

B♭ gypsy major is built as B♭ phrygian dominant with the seventh raised from A♭ to A. The scale follows 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7. Its step pattern is H, 1½, H, W, H, 1½, H. Compare it with B♭ phrygian dominant.

When to use it

Use B♭ gypsy major over a B♭ major or B♭ 5th chord for a sharp ♭2 and ♭6 colour. It fits B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A harmony. Try it in Middle Eastern or fusion styles. See B♭ major and F 7th flat 5.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 4, fret 3 and covers frets 2–5, setting up the Box 2 shift.

Common questions

What notes are in B♭ gypsy major?

B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F, G♭, A. The scale has a major third and a raised seventh. It is also called Byzantine. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit B♭ gypsy major?

B♭ major and B♭ 5th work as tonic chords. F 7th flat 5 fits the fifth degree. G♭ augmented matches the ♭6.

How does B♭ gypsy major differ from B♭ phrygian dominant?

B♭ gypsy major raises the seventh from A♭ to A. This creates a leading tone to the tonic. The rest of the scale is identical.