25 Exotic Scales On Guitar - Charts, Diagrams And Audio

Seven Notes (major)

This first chapter lists three major exotic scales made of seven notes : Byzantine, Enigmatic, Persian. Here the formula charts, guitar neck diagrams and audio clips.

1 - Byzantine Scale

The Byzantine scale is better known as double harmonic major and sometimes referred to as Flamenco mode or Major Romani. The formula is 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), b6 (minor sixth), 7 (major seventh).

2 - Enigmatic Scale

The enigmatic scale has two versions. The ascending form is built with :1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), #4 (augmented fourth), #5 (augmented fifth), #6 (augmented sixth), 7 (major seventh).

The descending form has a natural fourth instead, giving the formula 7 - #6 - #5 - 4 - 3 - b2 - 1.

3 - Persian Scale

The Persian scale is also known as Raga Lalita or Chromatic Hypolydian Inverse is made of 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), 4 (fourth), b5 (diminished fifth), b6 (minor sixth), 7 (seventh).

Seven Notes (minor)

This second chapter is dedicated to minor exotic scales built of seven notes : Javanese Pelog, Neapolitan Minor, Neapolitan Major and Hungarian Minor.

Here are the related charts and guitar shapes.

4 - Javanese Pelog Scale

The Javanese Pelog scale or Dorian b2 or Phrygian sharp 6 is an Indonesian scale built of 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), b3 (minor third), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (sixth), b7 (minor seventh).

It should not be confused with the Balinese Pelog Scale (discussed below) which is a pentatonic scale.

5 - Neapolitan Minor Scale

The Neapolitan minor scale is composed of : 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), b3 (minor third), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), b6 (minor sixth), 7 (seventh).

It is also referred to as Harmonic minor b2 and Phrygian major 7.

6 - Neapolitan Major Scale

The Neapolitan major scale, despite is name, is a minor scale built with: 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), b3 (minor second), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (sixth) and 7 (seventh).

The main difference with the Minor Neapolitan scale is the sixth which is major.

7 - Hungarian Minor Scale

The Hungarian minor scale or double harmonic minor or Gypsy minor is the fourth mode of the double harmonic scale.

It is spelled 1 (root), 2 (second), b3 (minor third), #4 (augmented fourth), 5 (perfect fourth), b6 (minor sixth) and major seventh (7).

Notice that it is built the same as the harmonic minor scale but with an augmented fourth instead of a natural fourth.

 

Seven Notes (Dominant)

This third chapter is dedicated to dominant scales made of seven notes that are : Overtone, Hindu, Romanian Major, Hungarian Major, Spanish Gipsy, Arabian, Asian.

Here are the formula charts and shapes.

8 - Overtone Scale

The Overtone scale is a synthetic scale also known as Acoustic or Lydian dominant, fourth mode of the melodic minor scale.

The formula is 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 3 (third) , #4 (augmented fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (sixth) and b7 (minor seventh).

9 - Hindu Scale

The Hindu scale is sometimes referred to as Aeolian Dominant, Mixolydian b6 and Major-Minor actually the fifth mode of the melodic minor scale.

The formula is tonic (1), second (2), third (3), perfect fourth (4), perfect fifth (5), minor sixth (b6) and minor seventh (b7).

10 - Romanian Major Scale

The Romanian Major scale is spelled out : 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), #4 (augmented fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (sixth), b7 (minor seventh).

It is also called Lydian Dominant Flat 2. It can be used on dominant 7 chords to add tension.

11 - Hungarian Major Scale

Despite its name, the Hungarian Major scale is a dominant scale.

The only difference with the Romanian Major Scale discussed above is the sharp second giving the following formula : 1 (tonic), #2 (augmented second), 3 (major third), #4 (augmented fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (major sixth), b7 (minor seventh).

12 - Spanish Gipsy Scale

The Spanish Gipsy scale is also called Phrygian major, Mixolydian b2 b6, Altered Phrygian, dominant flat 2 flat 6, Spanish Gitan, Harmonic Major Inverse or Jewish scale.

This is actually the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale better known as Phrygian Dominant.

The formula is 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), b6 (minor sixth), b7 (minor seventh).

13 - Arabian Scale

The Arabian scale is also named Major Locrian. The formula is 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 3 (third), 4 (perfect fourth), b5 (diminished fifth), b6 (minor sixth) and minor seventh (b7).

You can use it over 7b5b13 chords.

14 - Asian Scale

The Asian scale is sometimes referred to as Oriental or Minor Romani Inversed.

The formula is 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 3 (major third), 4 (fourth), b5 (diminished fifth), 6 (major sixth), and b7 (minor seventh).

Six Notes

The next section covers exotic 6 note scales, the Prometheus scale and the Ritus scale :

15 - Prometheus Scale

The Prometheus scale is also know as Mystic scale or Scriabin's Prometheus scale, with reference to musical pieces by Alexander Scriabin, a Russian composer.

This scale is composed of 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 3 (major third), #4 (augmented fourth), 6 (major sixth) and b7 (minor seventh). It can be used over 7#11 and 7b5 chords.

16 - Ritsu Scale

The Ritsu scale or Ritsu Onkai is a minor Japanese scale made of six notes 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), b3 (minor third), 4 (perfect fourth), b6 (minor sixth) and b7 (minor seventh).

Five Note Scales (pentatonic)

This last section covers the main five note exotic scales that are : the Insen Scale, Iwato, Scottish, Han-Kumoï, Hon-Kumoi-joshi, Egyptian, Hirajoshi, Balinese Pelog and Mongolian.

17 - In Sen Scale

The In Sen scale, or Insen, or Kokin-joshi is a suspended scale from Japan built of : 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 4 (pefect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth) and b7 (minor seventh).

18 - Iwato Scale

The Iwato scale can be seen as the Locrian mode (seven mode of the major scale) without the b3 and the b6 giving the formula 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 4 (fourth), b5 (diminished fifth) and b7 (minor seventh).

19 - Scottish Pentatonic Scale

The Scottish pentatonic is a suspended scale made of 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth) and 6 (major sixth).

It is also referred to as Ritusen scale and better known as the fourth mode of the major pentatonic scale.

20 - Han-Kumoï Scale

The Han-Kumoï scale aka Japanese scale is a suspended pentatonic scale built of : 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth), b6 (minor sixth).

21 - Hon-Kumoi-joshi Scale

The Hon-Kumoi-joshi scale is a suspended Japanese scale built of 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), 4 (fourth), 5 (perfect fifth) - b6 (minor sixth).

22 - Egyptian Scale

The Egyptian scale is better known as suspended pentatonic scale, second mode of the major pentatonic scale. The formula is 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 4 (perfect fourth), 5 (perfect fifth) and b7 (minor seventh).

23 - Hirajoshi Scale

The Hirajoshi Scale is actually the Aeolian Pentatonic scale. This is a minor pentatonic scale spelled 1 (tonic), 2 (second), b3 (minor third), 5 (perfect fifth), b6 (minor sixth).

24 - Balinese Pelog Scale

The Balinese Pelog scale is an Indonesian minor pentatonic scale constructed with : 1 (tonic), b2 (minor second), b3 (minor third), 5 (perfect fifth) and b6 (minor sixth).

25 - Mongolian Scale

The last of the serie, the Mongolian pentatonic scale which is made of 1 (tonic), 2 (second), 3 (major third), 5 (perfect fifth), 6 (major sixth). It is actually built the same as the major pentatonic scale.