E Hungarian Minor Alt Guitar Scale

E Hungarian Minor Alt Scale — Notes and Intervals

The E Hungarian Minor Alt scale retains the double augmented seconds of the Hungarian minor but replaces the leading tone with a flatted seventh, yielding a more modal and earthy character. On Guitar, it contains the notes E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D. Favored by Romani musicians across Central Europe, its open quality suits the improvisatory nature of campfire traditions and gypsy jazz. Commonly used in Romani, Eastern European Folk, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz. Notable players include Django Reinhardt, Stochelo Rosenberg. Use over m7 chords in Romani and Eastern European folk contexts. The b7 supports dominant minor sonorities rather than the classical mMaj7 of standard Hungarian minor.

Notes: E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7m

Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 b7

Formula: W-H-WH-H-H-W-W

Number of notes: 7

Musical Character

Shares the double augmented 2nd structure of the Hungarian minor but replaces the leading tone (natural 7th) with a b7, removing the strong pull to resolution. The result is more modal, more earthy, and less classical in feel.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Romani, Eastern European Folk, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz

Notable players: Django Reinhardt, Stochelo Rosenberg

How to Use the E Hungarian Minor Alt Scale

Use over m7 chords in Romani and Eastern European folk contexts. The b7 supports dominant minor sonorities rather than the classical mMaj7 of standard Hungarian minor.

Origin & Background

A variant of the Hungarian minor scale favored by Roma musicians across Central and Eastern Europe. The b7 instead of natural 7 gives it a more open, less cadential character suited to the improvisatory nature of Romani campfire music and oral folk traditions.

How to Play E Hungarian Minor Alt on Guitar

Start the E Hungarian Minor Alt scale in open position, taking advantage of the open E string. 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 open position.

The E Hungarian Minor Alt scale contains 2 sharps (F#, A#). Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Practice the E Hungarian Minor Alt 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 E to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Minor Alt scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in romani contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, try playing the E Hungarian Minor Alt scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs. Aim for a fiery quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

• E Hungarian minor
• E Dorian #4
• E Harmonic minor
• E Phrygian dominant

The E Hungarian Minor Alt scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G, A#, B, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Hungarian Minor Alt

The E Hungarian Minor Alt 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 E Hungarian Minor Alt Further

• Harmonize the E Hungarian Minor Alt scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• E Hungarian Minor Alt on Ukulele
• E Hungarian Minor Alt on Bass
• E Hungarian Minor Alt on Piano

Explore E Hungarian Minor Alt in Other Tunings

• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• E Hungarian Minor Alt in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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