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Scale · 7 notes

E Hungarian Minor Scale

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

CEGBD♯F♯A♯

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

On the fretboard

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

EADGBe135791215EF♯GA♯BCD♯EF♯GA♯BCD♯EF♯GA♯BCD♯EF♯GA♯BCD♯EGA♯BCD♯EF♯GA♯BCD♯EF♯GA♯BCEF♯GA♯BCD♯EF♯G

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

Notes in the E Hungarian Minor scale

DegreeNoteName
1ETonic
2F♯Supertonic
♭3GMediant
♯4A♯Subdominant
5BDominant
♭6CSubmediant
7D♯Leading tone

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

E 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 E Hungarian Minor scale

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

DegreeTriad7th chord
iEmEm(maj7)
IIF♯F♯7
III+G+G7♯5
iv°A♯°A♯°7
VBBmaj7
VICCmaj7
viiD♯mD♯m7

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

How to practise the E 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 E Hungarian Minor scale?

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

What is the formula for the E 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 E Hungarian Minor scale?

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

More E scales

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