F# Hungarian Minor Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
F# Hungarian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F# Hungarian Minor scale, also known as the Gypsy Minor, is famous for its two wide melodic gaps. On Mandolin, its notes are F#, G#, A, C, C#, D, F. 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: F#, G#, A, C, C#, D, F
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
Musical Character
Contains TWO augmented 2nd intervals (b3-#4 and b6-7), giving it an unmistakable double-exotic quality. These 'leaps' are what make it sound simultaneously Eastern European and Middle Eastern.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Classical, Metal, Klezmer, Film Scores, Gypsy Jazz
Notable players: Franz Liszt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Django Reinhardt
How to Use the F# Hungarian Minor Scale
Use over m chords in gypsy jazz and neoclassical metal. Works beautifully over i-V progressions in minor keys.
Origin & Background
Also known as the Gypsy Minor scale. Central to the Hungarian Rhapsodies of Franz Liszt and Romani musical tradition. Rimsky-Korsakov employed this mode in the opening theme of Scheherazade (1888). Bartók and Kodály's extensive fieldwork collecting folk music suggested that such scales likely originated from Arabic sources, entering Hungarian tradition through Roma musicians rather than from native folk roots.
How to Play F# Hungarian Minor on Mandolin
Begin by locating F# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Hungarian Minor scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The F# Hungarian Minor scale contains 3 sharps (F#, G#, C#). Its relative major is A major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Practice the F# 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 F# to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Minor scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in klezmer contexts.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the F# Hungarian Minor scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a powerful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The F# Hungarian Minor scale contains 7 notes (F#, G#, A, C, C#, D, F). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Mandolin 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 F# Hungarian Minor
The F# 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 F# Hungarian Minor Further
- Harmonize the F# Hungarian Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F# Hungarian Minor on Guitar
- F# Hungarian Minor on Ukulele
- F# Hungarian Minor on Bass
- F# Hungarian Minor on Piano