A Hungarian Major Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagram
A Hungarian Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Hungarian Major scale is a heptatonic scale that provides an Eastern European dominant sound. On Bass, the notes are A, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G. It offers a unique, exotic brightness that is excellent for adding cultural character to a composition. Commonly used in Classical, Eastern European Folk, Film Scores. Notable players include Bela Bartok, Zoltan Kodaly. Use over dominant chords in Eastern European folk contexts. Adds cultural character to compositions.
Notes: A, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G
Intervals: 1P, 2A, 3M, 4A, 5P, 6M, 7m
Degrees: 1 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7
Formula: WH-H-W-H-W-H-W
Number of notes: 7
How to Play A Hungarian Major on Bass
On bass, locate A on the E string at fret 5. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The A Hungarian Major scale contains 3 sharps (C#, D#, F#). Its relative minor is F# minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Hungarian Major scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on A to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Major scale come through clearly.
Bass Tips
Practice the A Hungarian Major scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations.
The A Hungarian Major scale contains 7 notes (A, C, C#, D#, E, F#, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Hungarian Major
The A Hungarian Major scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.