An introduction to the many lovely scales are heard in traditional Greek music. The most important are highlighted in bold.
I am indebted to Georgios Leftheriotis for introducing me to these scales. For more, see Greek Scales and Accompaniment.
Major Scales
NameNotes of the scaleHijaz
1 2 . . 3 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8 2 . . 3 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8 G Ab . . B C . D Eb . F . G
Hijazskiar
1 2 . . 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8 2 . . 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8 G Ab . . B C . D Eb . . F# G
Houzam
1 . . 2 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8 . . 2 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8
— (for bouzouki)
1 2 . . 3 . 4 5 6 . . 7 8 2 . . 3 . 4 5 6 . . 7 8
Major
1 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 8 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 8 C D E F G A B C D E F# G A B C# D Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Sengah
1 . . 2 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8 . . 2 3 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8
Rahst (up)
1 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 8 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 8
Rahst (dn)
1 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 7 . 8 . 2 . 3 4 . 5 . 6 7 . 8
Minor Scales
NameNotes of the scaleDiatonic Minor
1 . 2 3 . 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8 C D Eb F G Ab Bb C F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
Harmonic Minor
1 . 2 3 . 4 . 5 6 . . 7 8
Melodic Minor (up)
1 . 2 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 8
Melodic Minor (down)
1 . 2 3 . 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8
Souzinak
1 . 2 3 . . 4 5 . 6 7 . 8
Niaventi (difficult, beautiful, good to know.)
1 . 2 3 . . 4 5 6 . . 7 8
Kiourdi (up)
1 . 2 3 . 4 5 . . 6 7 . 8
Kiourdi (down)
1 . 2 3 . 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8
Sabach
1 . 2 3 4 . . 5 6 . 7 . 8
Ousak
1 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 6 . 7 . 8 C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C G Ab Bb C D Eb F G
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