C♯ Gypsy Major at a glance
Gypsy major lives in Romani and Balkan music - swaggering exotic feel that works great for virtuoso violin and accordion lines. Built on the root C♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♯ D E♯ F♯ G♯ A B♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | H W+H H W H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | C♯DE♯mF♯mG♯(♭5)A+B♯–D–F♯ |
Chords in the C♯ Gypsy Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♯ Gypsy Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♯ Gypsy Major uses three black keys (C♯, F♯ and G♯) and four white. E♯ and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F and C.
C♯ · D · E♯ · F♯ · G♯ · A · B♯
Try C♯ Gypsy Major on the virtual piano
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C♯ Gypsy Major on the guitar
C♯ Gypsy Major - fr 0–12
C♯ Gypsy Major on the staff
Notes of the C♯ Gypsy Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D | minor 2nd2m | 1 | |
| 3 | E♯ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | F♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | B♯ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes C♯ Gypsy Major different
The scale listed here as Gypsy major has the intervals 1, ♭2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7, the scale also known as double harmonic major or the Byzantine scale. It differs from Phrygian dominant only in the seventh, which is major here. That major seventh gives it two augmented seconds (♭2 to 3 and ♭6 to 7) laid out symmetrically, so both halves of the scale follow the same pattern: half step, augmented second, half step. Its major tonic chord is framed by a half step above the root and a half step below it. On C♯, C♯ Gypsy Major has B♯ where C♯ Phrygian Dominant has B; every other note is shared with C♯ Phrygian Dominant (C♯ D E♯ F♯ G♯ A B).
How to use the C♯ Gypsy Major scale
The diatonic chords of C♯ Gypsy Major are: I = C♯, II = D, iii = E♯m, iv = F♯m, V♭5 = G♯(♭5), VI+ = A+, VII = B♯–D–F♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♯ Gypsy Major. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Gypsy major lives in Romani and Balkan music - swaggering exotic feel that works great for virtuoso violin and accordion lines.
Practice tips
Treat those augmented second intervals as expressive elements rather than obstacles. Let them ornament your phrases.
Formula & step pattern
The C♯ Gypsy Major scale follows an exotic major scale built on augmented seconds and characteristic chromatic motion. Step pattern: H - W+H - H - W - H - W+H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2m · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear C♯ Gypsy Major
Start with the music described above: listen for C♯ Gypsy Major in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C♯ Gypsy Major scale?
The C♯ Gypsy Major scale contains C♯, D, E♯, F♯, G♯, A and B♯.
What is the formula for the C♯ Gypsy Major scale?
C♯ Gypsy Major follows an exotic major scale built on augmented seconds and characteristic chromatic motion.
Is C♯ Gypsy Major a major or minor scale?
C♯ Gypsy Major is a gypsy major scale. Exotic major scale with augmented seconds - used in Romani and Balkan music.
What chords belong to the C♯ Gypsy Major scale?
The diatonic chords of C♯ Gypsy Major are C♯, D, E♯m, F♯m, G♯(♭5), A+, B♯–D–F♯.
Which genres use C♯ Gypsy Major?
Gypsy major lives in Romani and Balkan music - swaggering exotic feel that works great for virtuoso violin and accordion lines.
How do you play the C♯ Gypsy Major scale on the piano?
On the piano C♯ Gypsy Major uses three black keys (C♯, F♯ and G♯) and four white. E♯ and B♯ are the white keys you'd normally call F and C.
What is the difference between C♯ Gypsy Major and C♯ Phrygian Dominant?
On C♯, C♯ Gypsy Major has B♯ where C♯ Phrygian Dominant has B; every other note is shared with C♯ Phrygian Dominant (C♯ D E♯ F♯ G♯ A B).
How do I practise the C♯ Gypsy Major scale?
Treat those augmented second intervals as expressive elements rather than obstacles. Let them ornament your phrases.