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The Hungarian Minor Scale aka Gipsy Minor On Guitar - Theory, Intervals, Charts And Diagrams

The Hungarian minor scale, also known as the Double Harmonic Minor or Gypsy Minor scale, is a distinctive and exotic-sounding scale often used in Eastern European, Romani, and Middle Eastern music.

Construction

The Hungarian minor scale is built of : Tonic (1), second (2), minor third (b3), augmented fourth (#4), perfect fifth (5), minor sixth (b6) and major seventh (7).

Thus giving the interval pattern W - H - H+W - H - H - H+W - H.

(W being for whole step and H for Half-step)

Notice that the Hungarian minor scale is also known as the fourth mode of the double harmonic major scale and sometimes referred to as Gypsy Minor Scale and more rarely as Egyptian Scale. 

C Hungarian Minor Scale C D Eb F# G Ab B
Formula 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7
Intervals W H H+W H H H+W H

One-Octave Shapes

Here are four shapes showing the Hungarian Minor Scale within one octave.

Notice that the name of the scale depends on the location of the tonic (1).

Example with the first diagrams (tonic on the sixth and fourth string).

By starting on the third fret you will obtain a G Hungarian Minor scale. For this you have to know all the notes on the guitar fretboard.

Hungarian minor scale one octave shapes

Two Octave Shapes

These two neck diagrams provide the notes of the Gypsy Minor Scale (aka Hungarian Minor) within the space of two octaves (and a little bit more). 

Don't forget to associate the corresponding chord, that is a minMaj7 chord (1 - b3 - 5 - 7).

Hungarian minor scale two octave shapes for guitar

3 Notes Per String

Now let's take a look at the seven following shapes to play the Hungarian Minor Scale starting on each note of the scale.

This is a good way to practice all over the guitar fretboard, learn and hear the seven modes of the double harmonic minor scale, wich actually corresponds to the 5th shape.

Hungarian minor scale guitar charts

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Last edited: 2025-07-01

Comments

  • Suzana

    1 Suzana On 2023-04-29

    Hi there, you've made a mistake in this paragraph: "Notice that the Hungarian minor scale is also known as the fourth mode of the double harmonic minor scale and sometimes referred to as Gipsy Minor Scale and more rarely as Egyptian Scale." You obviously meant to write "the double harmonic major scale".

    Could you also please notify me via email when you add the diagrams containing all 7 shapes (of 3 notes per string) for the Lydian Augmented #2 mode and the Locrian bb7 mode (I forgot to submit my email address on those previous comments)?
    Thank you in advance!
    jazz-guitar-licks

    jazz-guitar-licks On 2023-05-01

    Hi thanks for spotting this typo. Subscribe the newsletter to stay informed of the latest publications.
    Stef

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