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HIJAZ mode played by Chromatic Harmonicas

The aim of this article is to inform Diatonic Harmonica Players about hitzaz scale playing our Traditional Greek Music

In western music the scale is just a sequence of notes, but in eastern music theory except the sequence of notes there are the modes (write the word Maqam in Google and find the Arabic treasure of these music modes).
Such modes (Some also call them scales) are : Hijaz , Hijascar ,Houzam , niavent , ousac , sabax , rast , or having Greek names as Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, and Ionian ….

The harmonic Minor Diatonic Harmonicas play many kinds of minor ethnic music: GREEK, GYPSY, YIDDISH, ASIAN, TANGO as well as various selections of jazz and classic show tunes, can be played easily with this harmonica.

The harmonic Minor Diatonic Harmonica plays in a different key from cross harp (2st position), that is in the Straight Harp (1st position).

But unfortunately you cannot play completely various selections of Minor and hijaz tunes.


HITZAZ (or hijaz) scale is produced by the 5th of the relative HARMONIC MINOR Scale

You can listen two of such Greek famous hiztaz tunes ,played by chromatic harmonica ,here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J78QsQjW4Hc (Greek Macedonian tunes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPhF9TX8UY ( Cyprus tune)


Hijaz mode is formed by the 5th of the relative Harmonic Scale:

Cm Harmonic: C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – B – C
G Hijaz : G – Ab – B – C – D – Eb - F- G
Dm Harmonic: D – E - F - G - A - Bb - C# - D
A Hijaz: A – Bb - C# - D –E – F – G – A
Em Harmonic: Ε – F# - G – A – B – C – D# - E
B Hijaz: B – C – D# - E – F# - G – A – B
Fm Harmonic F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – E – F
C Hijaz: C – Db – E – F – G – Ab – Bb – C
Gm Harmonic: G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F# - G
D Hijaz: D – Eb – F# - G – A – Bb – C – D
Αm Harmonic: A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A
Ε Hijaz: E - F - G# - A - B - C - D - E
Bm Harmonic: B – C# - D – E – F# - G – A# - B
F# Hijaz: F# - G – A# - B – C# – D – E – F#