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A♭ hungarian gypsy scale on bass guitar
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F♭, G♭. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 4 and string 1, fret 1.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A♭ hungarian gypsy scale on bass?
A♭ hungarian gypsy in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♭ on the E string at fret 0 up to B♭ on the G string at fret 3. The root falls on the G string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | F♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 1, 2 | B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A♭ hungarian gypsy in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C♭ on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the E string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 5 | C♭, D |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | F♭, G♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 4 | B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
A♭ hungarian gypsy in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the E string at fret 4 and the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 5, 6, 7 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 7 | C♭, D |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
A♭ hungarian gypsy in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to F♭ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7 | B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | E♭, F♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (G) | 7, 8, 9 | D, E♭, F♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
A♭ hungarian gypsy in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D on the E string at fret 10 up to A♭ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10, 11, 12 | D, E♭, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 12, 13 | D, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale is A♭ natural minor with the fourth degree raised from D♭ to D. Compare it to A♭ natural minor. The raised fourth creates a diminished fifth from the root and an augmented fifth from the second degree.
When to use it
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. Use it in A♭ minor progressions that include E♭ major or E♭7. The raised fourth suits Eastern European folk and fusion lines.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 4, fret 4, and the pattern covers frets 0–3. This box keeps the D natural within reach on string 3, fret 5.
Common questions
What notes are in A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale?
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F♭, and G♭. The degrees are 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, and ♭7. The ♯4 is the characteristic raised fourth. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale fit?
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale fits A♭ minor and A♭ 5th chords. The ♯4 (D) can also outline an E♭ major or E♭7 chord. Use it over progressions in A♭ minor that include E♭ major.
Is A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale the same as A♭ natural minor?
A♭ Hungarian Gypsy scale differs from A♭ natural minor by one note: the fourth degree is raised from D♭ to D. This creates a diminished fifth from the root and an augmented fifth from the second degree.