Romanian major scale

{{Infobox musical scale

| name = Romanian major scale

| image_name =

| image_alt =

| relative =

| parallel =

| dominant =

| subdominant =

| enharmonic =

| first_pitch = C

| second_pitch = D{{music|b}}

| third_pitch = E

| fourth_pitch = F{{music|#}}

| fifth_pitch = G

| sixth_pitch = A

| seventh_pitch = B{{music|b}}

| pitch_classes = 7

| qualities =

| Forte number = 7-31

| complement = 5-31

| interval_vector = 3,3,6,3,3,3

}}

The Romanian major scale is a heptatonic scale subset of the octatonic scale with an omitted {{music|flat}}3 degree. It is noted for its flattened 2nd and sharpened fourth degrees, the latter a distinctive feature of Romanian traditional music.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2Ktu7OFtUcC&dq=Romanian+major+scale&pg=PA54|title=Gypsy Violin Basics: A Beginner's Guide: A Beginner's Guide|publisher=Mel Bay Publications|year=2011|page=54|author=Mary Ann Harbar Willis|isbn=9781610653497}} It has the following interval structure in semitones: 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, giving it the notes C, D{{music|flat}}, E, F{{music|sharp}}, G, A, B{{music|flat}} in the key of C. Though it is called a major scale, it is typically played over a C13 ({{music|flat}}9) ({{music|sharp}}11) (also F{{music|sharp}} major over C) dominant chord.Slonimsky, Nicolas, Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns (1947) 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.

As the Romanian major scale is a subset of the octatonic scale with no {{music|flat}}3, it should have diminished seventh chords, particularly from its second note. This scale's {{music|sharp}}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, {{music|flat}}3rd, {{music|sharp}}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{{music|flat}}, F, G {{music|flat}}, A, B, which has the formula 1, 2, {{music|b}}3, 4, {{music|b}}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.