The way he laid it out is actually pretty simple to understand. If this lesson is confusing, you have skipped some vital steps in learning your music theory. You should look up how chords are made from scales and how intervals are assigned. It'll make your head explode at first, but keep reading about it until it makes sense. Some basics, triads are made from the 1, the 3 and 5 intervals of a scale. Since the scale is C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab and B. The first chord is C, Eb and G.
@sinfuldavy0, Because the notes of this scale are on an Ancient Egyptian flute which (when played in a descending order) is supposed to be a representation of the ideal ancient Egyptian afterlife. In Ancient Egypt, the deceased were placed in four individual containers called canopic jars with these flutes. Each note of the Egyptian scale when coming /played together creates the personality, called the Ka.
No problem; happy explorations. The cool thing is once you harmonize unusual scales, or harmonize familiar ones in unusual intervals, you will have a vocabulary which is quite different from the average player. Just be careful not to hurt your hands with some of the more difficult voicings you might come across.
@ankitrajmasihyoutub1 Like Andrew says, you build triads by stacking every other note: Chord 1: Root, third, fifth. Chord 2: Second, fourth, sixth. Chord 3: Third, fifth, seventh. Chord 4: Fourth, Sixth, Eighth (the eighth tone is the same as the root but one octave higher). Chord 5: Fifth, Seventh, Ninth (same as second but one octave higher). Chord 6: Sixth, Eighth, Tenth. Chord 7: Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh. Chord 8: Eighth, Tenth, Twelfth. Get to know your fretboard to figure out the shapes.
@emmetwhitey The "2" means to include the second note of the F# scale, which is G#. The "b5" means to flat the fifth note of the F# scale, that makes C# to C. So F#sus2b5 is essentially F#sus and add the G# and C notes on your chord.
This scale is most commonly called "Hungarian minor" (at least around Europe). In spoken language, players usually refers to this as a "gypsy minor" (listen Django, and you´ll see why). But yes, this scale has a many names. Completely useless to argue what to call it. I think the most interesting thing in this scale, is that there is that chromatic movement - it gives you a lot of possibilities to make interesting chord progressions and gives you good passages to a different key.
the scale consists of the root, 9, #9, #11, 5, b13, natural 7th. With the two half steps, the #11 to 5, and the natural 7th to the root...this implies a double harmonic minor tonality. the progression C- | Eb+ | D#11 | Ab G | shows the minor major quality of c minor (double harmonic minor major), and then major 9#11 to the #11 chord progression can be performed using the minor 7b5 scale or the diminished W-H scale....all these can be superimposed scales over the egyptian tonality....
Awesome lesson - covers all the bases and most importantly the harmony which a lot of people seem to overlook in favour of shapes. One I shall be watching again later :)
mrtalkative91 remember the notes in the scale are the same notes in the chords, if your first chord note is D on the 2nd then find Eb, F#,G,Ab,B,C in a chord formation :)
each chord which contains the notes of the scale, in this case ;for example, root is C, so Cm fits( the scale contains the notes C Eb and G wich builds a Cm), try building chords from the notes(3 and 4 notes :) ) and learn which chords go with the scale (learn the essence of the chord - root minor, root minor maj7(Cm(maj7)), third major....) hope you got it !
To make your next chord, the 2 chord. You treat the 2nd note of the scale as a 1. Then make a chord out of 1, 3, and 5 or D, F# and Ab. You just repeat that pattern going up the scale to get all 7 key chords of the scale. That's where those chords came from that he played. I really should make a video explaining all of this. This is the foundation of any good musician.
"Simhendramadhyamam" (harmonic minor with augmented 4th). It was first conceived in India, not Egypt. Persian / Armenian. My gypsy friend famous in South-east Asia around 1400 BC
Typically you just stack thirds upon each other to create chords from a scale. So in the case of this scale the I chord would contain the notes C, Eb and G. That is a normal C minor chord. So you basically take each other note of the scale and you get the chord. If you want to make it a 7th chord you just add another note on top, as said a third from the last note. So we would have C, Eb, G and B. Not quite sure about the name for this chord, but i would call it a "C minor major 7th" chord.
the triads will be built off the notes in the scale. The F# is the 4th degree, skip to the 3rd of that, which is Ab, and finally the C a fifth above that. so yo end up with F# Ab C. F# to Ab is a diminished 3rd, which is really just a whole step, so you have the sus2 sound instead of a major or minor structure. The C at the top of that triad is 6 half steps above the tonic, instead of 7, making it a b5. Therefore, sus2b5. The theory you got only works in major. Won't work on other scales.
Hi all, need some help here. my theory is very basic. as far as I know, on a scale, let us take a C major scale for example where the notes are C,D,E,F,G,A,B, The 1st, 3rd and 5th notes become major chords and the 6th which is A becomes the relative minor. B becomes a diminished chord. Why wasnt this applied on the Egyptian scale. Using what i think I know, the progression should have been C, F# and G as major chords and Ab as the relative minor but No. Andrew used Cm, F#sus2b5 and G. Why?
If you take the 2nd mode of this scale, starting on the D, you get a cool scale that might be played over a D7 featuring a b2 and a #11. Anyone using it over a D7?
I don't see why it's called the Egyptian scale (other than variants of the harmonic minor generally sounding middle-eastern). It's a carnatic rāgam called "Simhendramadhyamam" (harmonic minor with augmented 4th). It was first conceived in India, not Egypt. So please stop berating this guy for questioning it's name.
If you know Natural minor: 4 > 4# and b7 > 7 then you have the Egypt scale. If you know Harmonic minor: 4 > 4# then you have the Egypt scale. I've always thought Harmonic minor sounds exotic, I'd like to think of the Egypt scale as an altered Harmonic minor.
Not exactly. A hungarian minor scale is the 4th mode of a double harmonic major scale which has the same notes as the 1st mode of a harmonic minor scale. However, if you sharp the 4th (tritone, instead of perfect 4th), you will get this scale.
thanks, bro for the info but I am still in the dark. do you recommend any website where there are detailed lessons on chord construction using exotic scales.
The legend of Tarot cards go's that they were brought out of "Egypt" by "Gypsies" (notice the similar spelling). I can't help but to further the coincidence by suggesting that this scale is also known as the Hungarian Gypsy (correct me if I'm wrong). I should also infer that many use the Phrygian Dominant to sound Egyptian. Does that make them less accurate or rather more generic? However, to me this aka Hungarian Gypsy sounds more medieval mystic (ala Young Frankenstien) than Phrygian Dominant.
Egyptians don't just play one scale all their lives. Their music, like most Arabic music, uses Maqamat (or singular Maqam) as what you would now call scales. There are different ones that convey different moods. Some of them can only be played with a fretless or micro-tone guitar. But screw it, it sounds Egyptian so why not.
Can we apply these scales to any genre? Like Jazz or Blues. That would be a weird combination, but can it be done? I know this scale is used in metal. Can anyone answer me? Thanks!
how do you know which chords to apply for a particular scale? in this case, the egyptian! ok, so you know the notes, but how to know the specific chord (ex. F sharp sus2 flat 5) that sounds good for the scale? if you understand me :D
+mrtalkative91 always harmonize a scale to learn where and how to use it. If you wish contact me I'd tell you how that's done, it's very simple really. doomfan12345 yes is a fender strat but looks like the bridge and neck pups are railed humbuckers. +Ezra Dewayne Anderson Hungarian minor ;), the V mode known as "Double harmonic" is the interesting one. :)
Wow, Andrew is SO knowledgeable. I really wish that I were able to form the chords from the notes within a scale and just KNOW it. Not there yet. It's just beautiful to watch a master do it though. They make it look so easy. Mush respect to Andrew.
@subthis Mexican Standard I think due to the logo being gray and the finish not looking as good as the Americans but the neck and bridge pickups aren't stock :)
lol, of course they're related music change all the time, because people change all the time, you don't have to be a wise man to figure that out. But if you want to discuss music history, do it somewhere else, don't try to start an argument in the comment section. Thank you, i hope you aren't taking it the wrong way.
![Writing Exotic Music with Phrygian Dominant- 5th mode of Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY - SCALES]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aCZezZf9bi0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Writing Exotic Music with Phrygian Dominant- 5th mode of Harmonic Minor [MUSIC THEORY - SCALES]](/img/tr.png)
THIS IS A VERY,VERY INCREDIBLE VIDEO.. IT AUTOMATICALLY MAKES ME THINK OF MR.MARTY FRIEDMAN.. YOU ARE A PHENOMENAL GUITARIST..
The way he laid it out is actually pretty simple to understand. If this lesson is confusing, you have skipped some vital steps in learning your music theory. You should look up how chords are made from scales and how intervals are assigned. It'll make your head explode at first, but keep reading about it until it makes sense. Some basics, triads are made from the 1, the 3 and 5 intervals of a scale. Since the scale is C, D, Eb, F#, G, Ab and B. The first chord is C, Eb and G.
@sinfuldavy0,
Because the notes of this scale are on an Ancient Egyptian flute which (when played in a descending order) is supposed to be a representation of the ideal ancient Egyptian afterlife. In Ancient Egypt, the deceased were placed in four individual containers called canopic jars with these flutes. Each note of the Egyptian scale when coming /played together creates the personality, called the Ka.
I used to watch his videos when I initially learning. Great stuff. 😊
His approach is concise and moves along nicely.
This is the most beautiful scale I've ever heard in my life.
You're a great teacher.
Thank you for this detailed explanation, I really did not know what question should be asked...
The chord progression sounds very jazzy.
Such simple and yet enlightening advice. Thanks Andrew!
No problem; happy explorations. The cool thing is once you harmonize unusual scales, or harmonize familiar ones in unusual intervals, you will have a vocabulary which is quite different from the average player. Just be careful not to hurt your hands with some of the more difficult voicings you might come across.
Great lesson, Gus in Germany will be well pleased with that, as am I. Thank you
Super helpful
Glad to hear!
@ankitrajmasihyoutub1 Like Andrew says, you build triads by stacking every other note: Chord 1: Root, third, fifth. Chord 2: Second, fourth, sixth. Chord 3: Third, fifth, seventh. Chord 4: Fourth, Sixth, Eighth (the eighth tone is the same as the root but one octave higher). Chord 5: Fifth, Seventh, Ninth (same as second but one octave higher). Chord 6: Sixth, Eighth, Tenth. Chord 7: Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh. Chord 8: Eighth, Tenth, Twelfth. Get to know your fretboard to figure out the shapes.
This scale is so emotional, just playing it at equal intervals. Imagine if you put some melodic patterns on that !
@emmetwhitey The "2" means to include the second note of the F# scale, which is G#. The "b5" means to flat the fifth note of the F# scale, that makes C# to C. So F#sus2b5 is essentially F#sus and add the G# and C notes on your chord.
If you figure out Misrlou (Pulp Fiction theme) then you've pretty much got the scale nailed :)
it's called Hijaz Maqam !!
I do find the same thing with the Harmonic minor sounding exotic. And the technical name for the Egyptian scale would just be Hungarian Minor.
This scale is most commonly called "Hungarian minor" (at least around Europe). In spoken language, players usually refers to this as a "gypsy minor" (listen Django, and you´ll see why). But yes, this scale has a many names. Completely useless to argue what to call it. I think the most interesting thing in this scale, is that there is that chromatic movement - it gives you a lot of possibilities to make interesting chord progressions and gives you good passages to a different key.
the scale consists of the root, 9, #9, #11, 5, b13, natural 7th. With the two half steps, the #11 to 5, and the natural 7th to the root...this implies a double harmonic minor tonality.
the progression C- | Eb+ | D#11 | Ab G | shows the minor major quality of c minor (double harmonic minor major), and then major 9#11 to the #11 chord progression can be performed using the minor 7b5 scale or the diminished W-H scale....all these can be superimposed scales over the egyptian tonality....
Awesome lesson - covers all the bases and most importantly the harmony which a lot of people seem to overlook in favour of shapes. One I shall be watching again later :)
mrtalkative91 remember the notes in the scale are the same notes in the chords, if your first chord note is D on the 2nd then find Eb, F#,G,Ab,B,C in a chord formation :)
Andrew you are just awesome.
each chord which contains the notes of the scale, in this case ;for example, root is C, so Cm fits( the scale contains the notes C Eb and G wich builds a Cm), try building chords from the notes(3 and 4 notes :) ) and learn which chords go with the scale (learn the essence of the chord - root minor, root minor maj7(Cm(maj7)), third major....) hope you got it !
How do you know where to stack the notes to create the chords?
this is also dango reinhart lick known as the hungarian gypsy scale sorry about spelling
Great scale. I like to use it for metal and acoustic arrangements.
To make your next chord, the 2 chord. You treat the 2nd note of the scale as a 1. Then make a chord out of 1, 3, and 5 or D, F# and Ab. You just repeat that pattern going up the scale to get all 7 key chords of the scale. That's where those chords came from that he played. I really should make a video explaining all of this. This is the foundation of any good musician.
"Simhendramadhyamam" (harmonic minor with augmented 4th). It was first conceived in India, not Egypt.
Persian / Armenian. My gypsy friend
famous in South-east Asia around 1400 BC
Typically you just stack thirds upon each other to create chords from a scale. So in the case of this scale the I chord would contain the notes C, Eb and G. That is a normal C minor chord. So you basically take each other note of the scale and you get the chord.
If you want to make it a 7th chord you just add another note on top, as said a third from the last note. So we would have C, Eb, G and B. Not quite sure about the name for this chord, but i would call it a "C minor major 7th" chord.
One way I like to think of this scale as is being in the key of Cminor, and it has some interesting non-diatonic chords. So, I like that.
the triads will be built off the notes in the scale. The F# is the 4th degree, skip to the 3rd of that, which is Ab, and finally the C a fifth above that. so yo end up with F# Ab C. F# to Ab is a diminished 3rd, which is really just a whole step, so you have the sus2 sound instead of a major or minor structure. The C at the top of that triad is 6 half steps above the tonic, instead of 7, making it a b5. Therefore, sus2b5.
The theory you got only works in major. Won't work on other scales.
this is great! very helpful, you're a great teacher, thanks for posting
Thank you andrew!
Very clear and helpful, thanks.
Good video. Very easy to follow, and it's good to see some great guitar playing.
I will, thanks!
thank you, Andrew, great explanation !...
Hi all, need some help here. my theory is very basic. as far as I know, on a scale, let us take a C major scale for example where the notes are C,D,E,F,G,A,B, The 1st, 3rd and 5th notes become major chords and the 6th which is A becomes the relative minor. B becomes a diminished chord. Why wasnt this applied on the Egyptian scale. Using what i think I know, the progression should have been C, F# and G as major chords and Ab as the relative minor but No. Andrew used Cm, F#sus2b5 and G. Why?
If you take the 2nd mode of this scale, starting on the D, you get a cool scale that might be played over a D7 featuring a b2 and a #11. Anyone using it over a D7?
Wow! Thakns really well explained! Would love to see more videos like these!
Great video, very informative and theoretical. Keep em coming!
Cool Bill Lawrence pickups
Great approach! Thx man.
The second I heard this scale I was like "I need to know this".
can you please go through how you constructed those chords in detail....?
Good lesson!
I don't see why it's called the Egyptian scale (other than variants of the harmonic minor generally sounding middle-eastern). It's a carnatic rāgam called "Simhendramadhyamam" (harmonic minor with augmented 4th). It was first conceived in India, not Egypt. So please stop berating this guy for questioning it's name.
If you know Natural minor: 4 > 4# and b7 > 7 then you have the Egypt scale.
If you know Harmonic minor: 4 > 4# then you have the Egypt scale.
I've always thought Harmonic minor sounds exotic,
I'd like to think of the Egypt scale as an altered Harmonic minor.
Song for the intro?
Thanks man.
Not exactly. A hungarian minor scale is the 4th mode of a double harmonic major scale which has the same notes as the 1st mode of a harmonic minor scale. However, if you sharp the 4th (tritone, instead of perfect 4th), you will get this scale.
thanks, bro for the info but I am still in the dark. do you recommend any website where there are detailed lessons on chord construction using exotic scales.
Thanks!
3:15 The third triad is an Eb Augmented not an E Augmented. I'm surprised no observant person pointed that out in the comments section!
thanks great lesson!
Hello andrew we call this as simhendra madhyama in carnatic music...........what you played in the beginning.......................
The legend of Tarot cards go's that they were brought out of "Egypt" by "Gypsies" (notice the similar spelling). I can't help but to further the coincidence by suggesting that this scale is also known as the Hungarian Gypsy (correct me if I'm wrong). I should also infer that many use the Phrygian Dominant to sound Egyptian. Does that make them less accurate or rather more generic? However, to me this aka Hungarian Gypsy sounds more medieval mystic (ala Young Frankenstien) than Phrygian Dominant.
a demo please!!!
Egyptians don't just play one scale all their lives. Their music, like most Arabic music, uses Maqamat (or singular Maqam) as what you would now call scales. There are different ones that convey different moods. Some of them can only be played with a fretless or micro-tone guitar. But screw it, it sounds Egyptian so why not.
this scale is the scale django reinhardt would often use, its also known as the gypsy scale-listen to minor swing by him ;)
Correct, AKA "Hungarian Minor" to some people. I doubt there's any genuine connection with Egypt but of course I might be wrong...
So, it's harmonic minor with a tri-tone in it?
@guitarblogupdate Is Egyptian scales Related To Harmonic Minor scales???
oh, ok I think I get it! tnx!
Thank you I learned a lot.
in the west we know this as a C Hungarian Minor scale. flat 3rd and 6th with an augmented 4th.
Can we apply these scales to any genre? Like Jazz or Blues. That would be a weird combination, but can it be done? I know this scale is used in metal. Can anyone answer me?
Thanks!
how do you know which chords to apply for a particular scale? in this case, the egyptian! ok, so you know the notes, but how to know the specific chord (ex. F sharp sus2 flat 5) that sounds good for the scale? if you understand me :D
A harmonic minor scale is pretty much a Natural Minor scale, but the seventh is raised.
His guitar sounds beautiful, is a fender strat or another brand?
Excellent
Thanks , I forgot about building triads out of the scales
harmonic minor with a sharp 4th?
It sure as hell does.
Reminds me of Radiohead a little bit
+mrtalkative91 always harmonize a scale to learn where and how to use it. If you wish contact me I'd tell you how that's done, it's very simple really.
doomfan12345 yes is a fender strat but looks like the bridge and neck pups are railed humbuckers.
+Ezra Dewayne Anderson Hungarian minor ;), the V mode known as "Double harmonic" is the interesting one. :)
Did you learn it though?
Wow, Andrew is SO knowledgeable. I really wish that I were able to form the chords from the notes within a scale and just KNOW it. Not there yet. It's just beautiful to watch a master do it though. They make it look so easy. Mush respect to Andrew.
brutal technical egyptian death metal at its finest
does anyone know what the intro song is? sounds kinda like one of zappa's solos
awesome
@subthis Mexican Standard I think due to the logo being gray and the finish not looking as good as the Americans but the neck and bridge pickups aren't stock :)
It can also be called the Hungarian Minor scale or the Gypsy Minor scale.
your the man
very good video
American Standard Strat?
fucking love the intro
Doesn't Dave Murray use that guitar? O.o
lol, of course they're related music change all the time, because people change all the time, you don't have to be a wise man to figure that out. But if you want to discuss music history, do it somewhere else, don't try to start an argument in the comment section. Thank you, i hope you aren't taking it the wrong way.
i used to play that scale in my guitarclass in highschool and i thought it was something i made up....
Why is it called an Eygptian scale?
nice to see wll educated men here on internet....
related to Gordon Wasson?
It's easier to see it like the 4th mode of the harmonic minor
Totally true, by the way.
wich chords fits to this scale? :)
Its addicting.