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B♭ hungarian gypsy scale on guitar
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy uses B♭, C, D♭, E, F, G♭, A♭. The raised 4th E gives this scale its characteristic bite.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the B♭ hungarian gypsy scale on guitar?
B♭ hungarian gypsy in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 2. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2 | E, F, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3 | E, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2 | C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2 | E, F, G♭ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
B♭ hungarian gypsy in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 13 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4 | C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4 | E, F, G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | D♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
B♭ hungarian gypsy in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 13 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 7 | D♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6 | C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 7 | E, F, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
B♭ hungarian gypsy in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9 | E, F, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 9 | D♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 9 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8, 9 | B♭, C, D♭ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
B♭ hungarian gypsy in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 15 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9 | C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 11 | F, G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11 | E, F, G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9 | C, D♭ |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy is B♭ natural minor with a raised 4th, E instead of E♭. The scale contains a tritone between B♭ and E, and no leading tone. Compare it with B♭ natural minor to hear the difference.
When to use it
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. Use it over B♭ minor progressions for a Gypsy jazz or Eastern European feel. The ♯4 adds tension over B♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first; its roots on strings 6, 3, and 1 anchor the low, middle, and high registers.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ Hungarian Gypsy?
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy contains B♭, C, D♭, E, F, G♭, and A♭. The scale has a ♯4 and ♭6. It is spelled 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does B♭ Hungarian Gypsy work over?
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy works over B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. The ♯4 adds a distinctive colour. Use it with B♭ minor progressions.
What is the difference between B♭ Hungarian Gypsy and B♭ natural minor?
B♭ Hungarian Gypsy raises the 4th degree from E♭ to E. B♭ natural minor uses E♭. This change creates the scale's characteristic augmented second between D♭ and E.