Explore scales · Bass
B♭ hungarian major scale on bass guitar
B♭ Hungarian major uses B♭, D♭, D, F♭, F, G, A♭. Box 2 places the root on string 4, fret 6 for a mid-neck position.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ hungarian major scale on bass?
B♭ hungarian major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 10 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 A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | F♭, F, G |
| 3 (A) | 1 | B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, F♭, F |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 3 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ hungarian major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G on the E string at fret 3 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the E string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5 | D♭, D |
| 2 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (G) | 3, 6 | B♭, D♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ hungarian major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 9 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 E string at fret 6 and the D string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 7, 8 | F♭, F |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 9 | D♭, D, F♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
B♭ hungarian major in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the E string at fret 9 up to G on the G string at fret 12. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | D♭, D, F♭ |
| 3 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 12 | D♭, D |
| 1 (G) | 9, 10, 12 | F♭, F, G |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ Hungarian major lowers the second degree of B♭ acoustic to D♭. Compare it to B♭ acoustic to hear the half-step shift. Intervals run 1, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7, creating a major-minor hybrid. The ♭3 and 3 sit side by side, giving the scale its characteristic bite.
When to use it
Use it over B♭ major or B♭ minor chords when you want a sharp, exotic color. The ♭5 adds tension over the tonic, and the ♭7 suits dominant sounds. Try it in fusion or progressive rock. See B♭ major and B♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 2 first. It covers frets 3–6 and keeps the root on string 4, fret 6, making it easy to anchor phrases.
Common questions
Which notes make B♭ Hungarian major different from B♭ major?
B♭ Hungarian major has a ♭3 and ♭5 instead of the natural 3 and perfect 5. The ♭3 is D♭ and the ♭5 is F♭. These alterations give the scale its dark, exotic character. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Can I play B♭ Hungarian major over a B♭ minor chord?
Yes, the ♭3 fits the minor quality, but the major 3 adds dissonance. Use it briefly for color. The ♭5 also clashes with the perfect fifth in the chord.
What chords work with B♭ Hungarian major?
The tonic chord can be B♭ major or B♭ minor. The scale also fits over D♭ major, D♭ minor, and D diminished. The ♭5 degree suggests a 7♭5 chord on F♭.