D# Hungarian Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D# Hungarian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D# Hungarian Minor scale, also known as the Gypsy Minor, is famous for its two wide melodic gaps. On Guitar, its notes are D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D. It sounds powerful, mysterious, and perfectly balanced, frequently appearing in classical masterworks and modern melodic metal. Commonly used in Classical, Metal, Klezmer, Film Scores, Gypsy Jazz. Notable players include Franz Liszt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Django Reinhardt. Use over m chords in gypsy jazz and neoclassical metal. Works beautifully over i-V progressions in minor keys.
Notes: D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7
Formula: W-H-WH-H-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
How to Play D# Hungarian Minor on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 11 on the 6th (low E) to find your D# 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 6th fret on the A string.
The D# Hungarian Minor scale contains 3 sharps (D#, F#, A#). Its relative major is F# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the D# Hungarian Minor 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 D# to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Minor scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the D# Hungarian Minor scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs.
The D# Hungarian Minor scale contains 7 notes (D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D# Hungarian Minor
The D# Hungarian Minor 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 D# Hungarian Minor Further
- Harmonize the D# Hungarian Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D# Hungarian Minor on Ukulele
- D# Hungarian Minor on Bass
- D# Hungarian Minor on Piano
Explore D# Hungarian Minor in Other Tunings
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Hungarian Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D# Hungarian Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D# Hungarian Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)