Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Spanish Gypsy Scales (Phrygian Dominant)

The Spanish Gypsy Scale is a common name for the Phrygian Dominant Scale (a.k.a. Spanish Phrygian, Spanish Major and, less often, Freygish or Ahava Rabboh Scale, which is Hebrew for the Jewish Scale). The notes in this scale are the same as for the Harmonic Minor Scale, but with a different order – the A Harmonic Minor, for example, is relative to the E Spanish Gypsy.

The Spanish Gypsy Scale is often used in both flamenco and Turkish music, and occasionally in rock and jazz. Other Gypsy scales are the Hungarian Gypsy Scale and the Minor Gypsy Scale. See also Eight Tone Spanish Scales.

Spanish Gypsy Scales overview
C: C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D, E# (F), F#, G#, A, B, C# / Db, Ebb (D), F, Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D: D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, F## (G), G#, A#, B, C#, D# / Eb, Fb (E), G, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb
E: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D, E
F: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, A#, B, C#, D, E, F# / Gb, Abb (G), Bb, Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G: G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, B# (C), C#, D#, E, F#, G# / Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A: A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, C## (D), D#, F, F#, G#, A# / Bb, Cb (B), D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B: B, C, D#, E, F#, G, A, B

Intervals: 1, 2b, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Semi-notes: 1 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2
Formula: Half, Whole and a half, Half, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole