D# Hungarian Minor Guitar Scale — Open D
Guitar scale in Open D tuning — fretboard diagram
D# Hungarian Minor in Open D — 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
Tuning: Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Best for: Slide guitar, folk fingerpicking, singer-songwriter arrangements, and acoustic compositions with rich open-string resonance
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- D# Hungarian Minor in Standard Tuning
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop D
- D# Hungarian Minor in DADGAD
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open G
- D# Hungarian Minor in Baritone (B Standard)
- D# Hungarian Minor in 7-string
- D# Hungarian Minor in 8-string
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop C
- D# Hungarian Minor in Drop B
- D# Hungarian Minor in Half Step Down
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open E
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open A
- D# Hungarian Minor in Double Drop D
- D# Hungarian Minor in Open C