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Scale · 7 notes

A Hungarian Minor Scale

A Hungarian Minor is a 7-note scale with the notes A B C D♯ E F G♯. It sounds harmonic minor with a raised 4th, dramatic and Eastern European, with two augmented seconds.

CEFABD♯G♯

Purple = A (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every A hungarian minor note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EFG♯ABCD♯EFABCD♯EFG♯ABCD♯EFG♯ABCD♯EFG♯ABCD♯EFG♯ABCD♯EFG♯ABCEFG♯ABCD♯EF

Blue = A (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the A Hungarian Minor scale

DegreeNoteName
1ATonic
2BSupertonic
♭3CMediant
♯4D♯Subdominant
5EDominant
♭6FSubmediant
7G♯Leading tone

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C D♯ E F G♯.

A Hungarian Minor scale formula

The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – W+H – H – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7.

Chords in the A Hungarian Minor scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iAmAm(maj7)
IIBB7
III+C+C7♯5
iv°D♯°D♯°7
VEEmaj7
VIFFmaj7
viiG♯mG♯m7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

How to practise the A Hungarian Minor scale

Learn it as a variation of a scale you know and listen for the augmented second, the big step that gives it the sound. Play it over a drone on the root to hear the colour before you write with it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes in the A Hungarian Minor scale?

The notes of the A Hungarian Minor scale are A B C D♯ E F G♯.

What is the formula for the A Hungarian Minor scale?

The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – W+H – H – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7.

What chords are in the A Hungarian Minor scale?

Built from the scale in triads: Am, B, C+, D♯°, E, F, G♯m.

More A scales

A Major, A Natural Minor, A Harmonic Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major

Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.