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ENEN
Standard
Scales
Chords
B♭
Hungarian Minor
Frets: 0 - 24

Formula
Notes

M2-m2-m3-m2-m2-m3
B♭
C
D♭
E
F
G♭
A
E
A
E
F
C
B♭
F
1
G♭
D♭
A
E
G♭
2
B♭
F
C
3
G♭
D♭
4
A
E
C
A
5
B♭
F
D♭
B♭
6
G♭
A
E
7
C
B♭
F
C
8
D♭
E
G♭
D♭
9
A
F
C
10
B♭
G♭
D♭
11
E
A
E
12
F
C
B♭
F
13
G♭
D♭
A
E
G♭
14
B♭
F
C
15
G♭
D♭
16
A
E
C
A
17
B♭
F
D♭
B♭
18
G♭
A
E
19
C
B♭
F
C
20
D♭
E
G♭
D♭
21
A
F
C
22
B♭
G♭
D♭
23
E
A
E
24

Basic Scale Information

  • Name: Hungarian Minor Scale
  • Type: Altered minor scale (exotic scale)
  • Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – ♯4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7
  • Relation with Major Scale: N/A

Theoretical Aspects

  • Sound Character: The Hungarian minor scale has a dramatic and strongly ethnic sound, with inflections reminiscent of Eastern European gypsy music. The augmented interval between the minor third and augmented fourth gives it a tense and ornamental air.
  • Typical Chord: mMaj7 or m7♯11 (e.g., AmMaj7)
  • Modal Context: Widely used in traditional Hungarian and gypsy music, but also adopted by classical composers and jazz musicians to enrich the harmonic language.
  • Harmonic Use: Used on minor chords with a major seventh, or in modal contexts to create richly ornamental melodies.

Musical Context

  1. Musical Styles: Gypsy music, Romantic classical, Modal jazz, Neoclassical metal
  2. Songs using the scale:
    • Hungarian Dance No. 5 – Johannes Brahms
    • Zigeunerweisen – Pablo de Sarasate
    • Romani Song – Taraf de Haïdouks
    • Tamacun – Rodrigo y Gabriela
  3. Evoked Atmosphere: Dramatic, gypsy, passionate, intense, with oriental colors and melodic virtuosity.

Chords in Scale