B Hungarian Major Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
B Hungarian Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Hungarian Major scale is a heptatonic scale that provides an Eastern European dominant sound. On Guitar, the notes are B, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A. 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: B, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A
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 B Hungarian Major on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 7 on the 6th (low E) to find your B root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 2nd fret on the A string.
The B Hungarian Major scale contains 3 sharps (D#, F#, G#). Its relative minor is G# minor, which shares the same notes.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the B Hungarian Major scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Major scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the B Hungarian Major scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The B Hungarian Major scale contains 7 notes (B, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Hungarian Major
The B 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.
Explore B Hungarian Major Further
- Harmonize the B Hungarian Major scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- B Hungarian Major on Ukulele
- B Hungarian Major on Bass
- B Hungarian Major on Piano
Explore B Hungarian Major in Other Tunings
- B Hungarian Major in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Hungarian Major in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Hungarian Major in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Hungarian Major in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Hungarian Major in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Hungarian Major in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Hungarian Major in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Hungarian Major in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Hungarian Major in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Hungarian Major in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Hungarian Major in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Hungarian Major in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Hungarian Major in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Hungarian Major in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)