Historically known as the Byzantine & Arab Major Scale.
By Thomas de Haan. Full modes, variants, chords, and relative pairings. Source document content incorporated in full.
Audio Example : ChroHarmonic Chord Progression
Overview
The CroHarmonic system consists of related Major and Minor scales (with multiple variants) built from alterations to traditional harmonic major/minor, providing exotic and cinamatic chord progressions and melodies. The CroMelodic scales are natural melodic derivations that further modify interval content for flexible usage. Relative major/minor pairs connect the systems, allowing modulation while preserving note collections.
CroHarmonic Major : A harmonic major scale with a (flattened 2nd)
CroHarmonic Minor variants: A harmonic minor with a (flattened 2nd or flattened 4th), or both.
CroMelodic Major and Minor variants
CroMelodic Major lowered 2nd and 7th.
CroMelodic Minor variants #1 lowered 2nd with raised 6.
CroMelodic Minor variants #2 lowered 4th with raised 6.
CroHarmonic Scale Theory
Dive into the theory behind the CroHarmonic scale—its construction, sonorities, and applications. This PDF explains the system with examples and notation, tailored for composers and educators.
This scale mirrors the harmonic major with a flattened 2nd, creating tension and an exotic flavor. Example root C: C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B. Scale degree pattern: 1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7.
Audio Example : ChroHarmonic Major Scale
Modes
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Pattern
I
Croharmonic Ionian
C
C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B
½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – ½
II
Croharmonic Dorian
D♭
D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B – C
1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – ½ – ½
III
Croharmonic Phrygian
E
E – F – G – A♭ – B – C – D♭
½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – ½ – ½ – 1½
IV
Croharmonic Lydian
F
F – G – A♭ – B – C – D♭ – E
1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½
V
Croharmonic Mixolydian
G
G – A♭ – B – C – D♭ – E – F
½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1
VI
Croharmonic Deolian
A♭
A♭ – B – C – D♭ – E – F – G
1½ – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½
VII
Croharmonic Locrian
B
B – C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭
½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
C – E – G
C
C major
II
D♭ – F – A♭
D♭
D♭ major
III
E – A♭ – B
E
E minor / E major
IV
F – A♭ – C
F
F minor
V
G – B – D♭
G
G diminished
VI
A♭ – C – E
A♭
A♭ augmented
VII
B – D♭ – F
B
B diminished
CroHarmonic Minor Scales
CroHarmonic Major ↔ Minor Relative Pairs
Each CroHarmonic Major scale has a corresponding relative CroHarmonic Minor that shares the same pitch collection but shifts tonal center. This enables modulation with common-tone cohesion.
#
CroHarmonic Major Key
Major Notes
Relative Minor Key
Minor Notes
1
C
C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B
A
A – B♭ – C – D – E – F – G♯
2
G
G – A♭ – B – C – D – E♭ – F♯
E
E – F – G – A – B – C – D♯
3
D
D – E♭ – F♯ – G – A – B♭ – C♯
B
B – C – D – E – F♯ – G – A♯
4
A
A – B♭ – C♯ – D – E – F – G♯
F♯
F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D – E♯
5
E
E – F – G♯ – A – B – C – D♯
C♯
C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B♯
6
B
B – C – D♯ – E – F♯ – G – A♯
G♯
G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E – Fx
7
F♯ / G♭
F♯ – G – A♯ – B – C♯ – D – E♯
D♯
D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – Cx
8
C♯ / D♭
C♯ – D – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A – B♯
A♯
A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – Gx
CroHarmonic Minor #1 : Neopolitan Scale (Flattened 2nd)
Historically known as the Neopolitan scale and is Derived from harmonic minor with a flattened 2nd. Example root A: A – B♭ – C – D – E – F – G♯. Scale degree pattern: ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½.
Audio Example : ChroHarmonic Minor Scale - Neopolitan
Modes
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Pattern
I
Croharmonic Minor
A
A – B♭ – C – D – E – F – G♯
½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½
II
Locrarmonic
B♭
B♭ – C – D – E – F – G♯ – A
1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1½ – ½ – ½
III
Ionarmonic
C
C – D – E – F – G♯ – A – B♭
1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1
IV
Doharmonic
D
D – E – F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C
1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1
V
Phryharmonic
E
E – F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D
½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1
VI
Lhyharmonic
F
F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D – E
1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½
VII
Mixharmonic
G♯
G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F
½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
A – C – E
A
A minor
II
B♭ – D – F
B♭
B♭ major
III
C – E – G♯
C
C augmented
IV
D – F – A
D
D minor
V
E – G♯ – B♭
E
E diminished major
VI
F – A – C
F
F major
VII
G♯ – B♭ – D
G♯
G♯ tritonal
ChroHarmonic Minor #2: Byzantine Diminished Scale (Flattened 4th)
Flattened 4th variant. Example root A: A – B – C – D♭ – E – F – G. Scale degree pattern: 1 – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1½ – ½.
Audio Example : ChroHarmonic Minor Scale - Byzantine Diminished
Modes
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Pattern
I
Croharmonic Minor
A
A – B – C – D♭ – E – F – G
1 – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1½ – ½
II
Solyric
B
B – C – D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A
½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1
III
Drethic
C
C – D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A – B
½ – 1½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½
IV
Moracrian
D♭
D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A – B – C
1½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½
V
Xarodian
E
E – F – G♯ – A – B – C – D♭
½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – 1½
VI
Velydian
F
F – G♯ – A – B – C – D♭ – E
1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½
VII
Nyxarian
G♯
G♯ – A – B – C – D♭ – E – F
½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1½
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
A – C – E
A
A minor
II
B – D♭ – F
B
B diminished (tritonal)
III
C – E – G♯
C
C augmented
IV
D♭ – F – A
D♭
D♭ major
V
E – G♯ – B
E
E major
VI
F – A – C
F
F major
VII
G♯ – B – D♭
G♯
G♯ dissonant minor
CroHarmonic Minor #3 : Byzantine Minor (Flattened 2nd & 4th)
This variant lowers both 2nd and 4th degrees, creating a new exotic blues sounding minor scale that truly compliments the Byzantine & Arab Major Scale. Example root A: A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F – G♯. Scale degree pattern: 1 – ♭2 – 3 – ♭4 – 5 – 6 – ♯7.
Audio Example : ChroHarmonic Minor Scale - Byzantine Minor
Modes
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Pattern
I
Byzantine Aeolian
A
A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F – G♯
1½ – ½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – 1
II
Byzantine Locrian
B♭
B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A
½ – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1½
III
Byzantine Ionian
C
C – D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A – B♭
½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – ½ – ½
IV
Byzantine Dorian Flat
D♭
D♭ – E – F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C
1½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – ½
V
Byzantine Phyrician
E
E – F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D♭
1 – 1 – ½ – 1 – ½ – ½ – 1½
VI
Byzantine Lydian
F
F – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E
1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1
VII
Byzantine Augmented
G♯
G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F
½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
A – C – E
A
A minor
II
B♭ – D♭ – F
B♭
B♭ minor
III
C – E – G♯
C
C augmented
IV
D♭ – F – A
D♭
D♭ major
V
E – G♯ – B♭
E
E diminished
VI
F – A – C
F
F major
VII
G♯ – B♭ – D♭
G♯
G♯ diminished
CroMelodic Scales
CroMelodic Major Scale
Major scale with lowered 2nd, lowered 6th, and lowered 7th: Example root C: C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B♭. Pattern: ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – ½ – 1 – 1.
Audio Example : ChroMelodic Major Scale
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Interval Pattern
I
Cromelodic Ionian
C
C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B♭
1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
II
Cromelodic Dorian
D♭
D♭ – E – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7
III
Cromelodic Phrygian
E
E – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭
1 – ♭2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7
IV
Cromelodic Lydian
F
F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E
1 – 2 – 3 – #4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7
V
Cromelodic Mixolydian
G
G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F
1 – ♭2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
VI
Cromelodic Aeolian
A♭
A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F – G
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7
VII
Cromelodic Locrian
B♭
B♭ – C – D♭ – E – F – G – A♭
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♭6 – ♭7
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
C – E – G
C
C major
II
D♭ – F – A♭
D♭
D♭ major
III
E – G – B♭
E
E diminished
IV
F – A♭ – C
F
F minor
V
G – B♭ – D♭
G
G diminished
VI
A♭ – C – E
A♭
A♭ augmented
VII
B♭ – D♭ – F
B♭
B♭ minor
CroMelodic Minor Scale (Lowered 2nd, Raised 6)
Derived from harmonic minor with lowered 2nd and raised 6 (F#). Example root A: A – B♭ – C – D – E – F# – G♯. Pattern: 1½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½.
Audio Example : ChroMelodic Minor Scale
Mode
Name
Tonic
Notes
Pattern
I
Cromelodic Alt Aeolian
A
A – B♭ – C – D – E – F# – G♯
1½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½
II
Cromelodic Alt Locrian
B♭
B♭ – C – D – E – F# – G♯ – A
½ – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½
III
Cromelodic Alt Augmented
C
C – D – E – F# – G♯ – A – B♭
1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½
IV
Cromelodic Alt Dorian
D
D – E – F# – G♯ – A – B♭ – C
1 – 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½
V
Cromelodic Alt Phrygian
E
E – F# – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D
1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1
VI
Cromelodic Alt Lydian
F#
F# – G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D – E
1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1
VII
Cromelodic Alt Mixolydian
G♯
G♯ – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F#
½ – 1½ – ½ – ½ – 1 – 1 – 1
Chords
No.
Chord Notes
Tonic
Name
I
A – C – E
A
A minor
II
B♭ – D – F#
B♭
B♭ augmented
III
C – E – G♯
C
C augmented
IV
D – F# – B♭
D
D diminished (major)
V
E – G♯ – C
E
E major
VI
F# – B♭ – D
F#
F# diminished (major)
VII
G♯ – C – E
G♯
G♯ augmented
CroMelodic Diminished (Lowered 4th, Raised 6)
Variant lowering the 4th while raising the 6th. Example root A: A – B – C – D♭ – E – F# – G♯. Pattern: 1 – 1 – ½ – 1½ – ½ – 1 – 1.
