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E♭ hungarian major scale on bass guitar
E♭ Hungarian major uses E♭, G♭, G, B♭♭, B♭, C, D♭. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 6 for a low position.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ hungarian major scale on bass?
E♭ hungarian major in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the E string at fret 2 up to C on the G string at fret 5. 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) | 2, 3, 5 | G♭, G, B♭♭ |
| 3 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5 | G♭, G |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 5 | B♭♭, B♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 5–8
E♭ hungarian major in box 2 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 10 notes across 4 strings, from B♭♭ on the E string at fret 5 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | B♭♭, B♭, C |
| 3 (A) | 6 | E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 8–11
E♭ hungarian major in box 3 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C on the E string at fret 8 up to G♭ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10 | G♭, G |
| 2 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 11 | E♭, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 11–14
E♭ hungarian major in box 4 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 9 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to B♭♭ on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the D string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 14 | E♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 12, 13 | B♭♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 14 | G♭, G, B♭♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ Hungarian major lowers the second degree of E♭ acoustic to G♭. Compare it to E♭ 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 E♭ major or E♭ 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 E♭ major and E♭ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 2–5 and keeps the root on string 3, fret 6, making it easy to anchor phrases.
Common questions
Which notes make E♭ Hungarian major different from E♭ major?
E♭ Hungarian major has a ♭3 and ♭5 instead of the natural 3 and perfect 5. The ♭3 is G♭ and the ♭5 is B♭♭. These alterations give the scale its dark, exotic character. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Can I play E♭ Hungarian major over an E♭ 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 E♭ Hungarian major?
The tonic chord can be E♭ major or E♭ minor. The scale also fits over G♭ major, G♭ minor, and G diminished. The ♭5 degree suggests a 7♭5 chord on B♭♭.