Exotic Scales

[MidnightFlamed]

I thought I'd ask what are some good "exotic" scales that more or less have an instant association? In using some scales such as the Gypsy Minor and the Hirojoshi that have such signature feels to them, I was wondering what other scales could put such an instant feeling to a passage in a song.

The Question came to mind when I was writing a fantasy-styled piece of music for the hell of it, and was trying to come up with ways to make an instrumental conjure up clear images in a listener's mind. Does anyone have any favorite unique scales (or even chord voicings) that bring up vivid moods/feels/pictures?

[BrianH]

If you harmonize the exotic scales you already know, you'll get some very interresting chordal ideas.

[Kev Brigden]

Not so much one I've tried... but I'm looking thru a theory book and there's a cool scale called Neapolitan minor... seee what that sounds like....

[Vai the god of Sound]

Some modes like Mixolydian or Lydian sound good as exotic scales...just alter some scales and see what they sound like.

[MidnightFlamed]

Thanks for all your advice! I do like to more or less invent (or modify) scales for interesting sounds. But I'm always intrigued at how some scales will instantly elicit a reaction from non-musicians who don't realize anything about what you're playing. Oriental scales, for example, always seem to "sound" eastern right off the bat, so I was wondering if there were any other ethnic scales that people liked to use that had that kind of instant recognition.

[Vai the god of Sound]

Theres a scale that Vai uses in Incantation that's pretty hungary/bavarian...I think he made it...maybe not.

[Courjan]

One of my favorites. There's double-harmonic minor which coincides with one of Turkish Classical Music scales. Of course, the Turkish scale isn't in equal temperament system. The notes are slightly detuned, because the in the Turkish system the notes don't increment in half-steps but in nineth steps. So in between C and D there isn't only one C sharp / D flat. But not all these notes are used. Certain notes are picked to form certain scales and modes. That's why fretless instruments are favored in Turkish Classical Music. Otherwise you would have to change the position of your frets on every mode change. Ooooops, sorry for the verbosity

Double-Harmonic minor
1 b9 3 4 5 b13 maj7 8

[ShredOrDead]

Midnight, I know the Hirojishu relates to the Harmonic Minor like the Pentatonic relates to the Major. Where did you find the Gypsy? Guitar Grimoire? Is it a scale or a mode of a scale? Sounds cool, though. I'll have to look through my grimoire again...

[MidnightFlamed]

I think the Gypsy is the 5th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. Similar to the Hungarian Minor scale if I recall correctly.

[BrianH]

technically, all scales are modes.

[ShredOrDead]

I'm horrible with mode names. I memorized every mode of the major, pentatonic minor and major (the same shapes, of course), and harmonic minor before I started learning anything about theory. Its still easier for me to say "6th mode, A major scale" than "A Aeolian".

But I'm getting better.