The Romanian major scale is a heptatonic scale subset of the octatonic scale with an omitted ♭3 degree. It is noted for its flattened 2nd and sharpened fourth degrees, the latter a distinctive feature of Romanian traditional music.[1] It has the following interval structure in semitones: 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, giving it the notes C, D♭, E, F♯, G, A, B♭ in the key of C. Though it is called a major scale, it is typically played over a C13 (♭9) (♯11) (also F♯ major over C) dominant chord.[2] This is an enharmonic mode of B Harmonic Minor (A# & C# in B Harmonic Minor, Bb & Db in C Romanian Major), along with D Harmonic Major (C# in G Harmonic Major, Db in C Romanian Major). The root note of F Harmonic Major is raised a semitone to F#, and the root note of D Aeolian Dominant lowered a semitone to Db. There is also a ♮6 with the Db Super Lydian Augmented scale, lowering the B♮ to Bb.
| Component pitches | |
|---|---|
| C, D♭, E, F♯, G, A, B♭ | |
| Qualities | |
| Number of pitch classes | 7 |
| Forte number | 7-31 |
| Complement | 5-31 |
| Interval vector | <3,3,6,3,3,3> |
As the Romanian major scale is a subset of the octatonic scale with no ♭3, it should have diminished seventh chords, particularly from its second note. This scale's ♯4th and 6th notes have minor or major (dominant) chord, while the root only has a major (dominant) chord (distinction from the half-whole diminished scale that the root, ♭3rd, ♯4th, and 6th notes have full diminished, half diminished, minor, and dominant chords built from that scale).
The 5th mode, Jazz minor flat 5, also known as Jeth's Mode, is a jazz minor or melodic minor scale with a flattened 5th, and is named after Dutch composer Willem Jeths. It can also be thought of as a whole half diminished scale omitting the augmented fifth. It can be used for soloing instead of regular jazz minor. The Jazz minor flat 5 mode in C contains the notes C, D, E♭, F, G ♭, A, B, which has the formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 6, 7. This is an enharmonic mode of E Harmonic Minor (D# & F# in E Harmonic Minor, Eb & Gb in C Jeth's Mode), along with G Harmonic Major (F# in G Harmonic Major, Gb in C Jeth's Mode). The root note of Bb Harmonic Major is raised a semitone to B♮, and the root note of G Aeolian Dominant lowered a semitone to Gb. There is also a ♮6 with the Gb Super Lydian Augmented scale, lowering the E♮ to Eb.
Modes
editThe scale contains the following modes:[2]
Mode Name of scale Degrees Notes (in C Romanian Major)
Chords 1 Romanian Major Scale 1 ♭2 3 ♯4 5 6 ♭7 8 C D♭ E F♯ G A B♭ C C(7,♭9,#11,13) 2 Super Lydian Augmented ♮6/ Nohkan #2
1 ♯2 ♯3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 8 D♭ E F♯ G A B♭ C D♭ D♭dim7 or D♭mM7♭5
3 Locrian ♮2 
71 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 78 E F♯ G A B♭ C D♭ E Edim7 4 Istrian [heptatonic]/ 1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 ♭5 6♭7 8 F♯ G A B♭ C D♭ E F♯ F♯m or F♯(7,♭9, ♯9, ♯11) 5 Jazz Minor ♭5 (Jeth's Mode)
1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 6 7 8 G A B♭ C D♭ E F♯ G Gdim7 or GmM7♭5
6 Javanese ♭4/ Superphrygian ♮6
1 ♭2 ♭3 ♭4 5 6 ♭7 8 A B♭ C D♭ E F♯ G A Am or A(7,♭9,♯9,13) 7 Lydian Augmented ♭3 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 8 B♭ C D♭ E F♯ G A B♭ B♭dim7 or B♭mM7♭5
See also
edit- Hungarian major scale (the reversed version of the Romanian major scale)
- Lydian dominant scale
- Ukrainian Dorian (Romanian minor) scale
References
edit- ^ Mary Ann Harbar Willis (2011). Gypsy Violin Basics: A Beginner's Guide: A Beginner's Guide. Mel Bay Publications. p. 54. ISBN 9781610653497.
- ^ a b Slonimsky, Nicolas, Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns (1947)