E Gipsy Hungarian: An Open String Scale
Play the open low E string, then E, F#, G, A#, B, C and D#: that is the E Gipsy Hungarian scale. The open G, B and high E strings sit inside it too, so the open strings already ring with the scale.
The A# is what separates it from E harmonic minor, which has an A natural. The root returns on the 7th fret of the A string. If this sound grabs you, the other exotic scales on the site are worth a listen.
Play the E gipsy hungarian scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the E gipsy hungarian scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | Root | 0 |
| F# | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| G | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| A# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| C | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| D# | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
E gipsy hungarian scale notes:
How the gipsy hungarian scale is built:
The gipsy hungarian scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W+H-H-H-W+H-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is also known as Hungarian Minor.
E Gipsy Hungarian Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the E gipsy hungarian scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Scales with the same notes as E Gipsy Hungarian
These scales use exactly the same notes. Each one starts somewhere else, so the root and the mood change.
| Scale | Starts on degree | Learn the scale |
|---|---|---|
| B Bizantine | 5 | Bizantine Scale |
Other scales on E
Same root, different notes. Play them back to back to hear what changes.
- E Persian: shares 4 notes
- E Bizantine: shares 4 notes
- E Dorian #4: shares 5 notes
- E Harmonic Minor: 4 instead of #4
The gipsy hungarian scale in other keys
Keep learning
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
