Fretline

Explore scales · Guitar

C hungarian major scale on guitar

C Hungarian major uses C, E♭, E, G♭, G, A, B♭. Its chromatic pairs make it a bold choice over C major or C minor.

EG♭GAB♭CE♭EGAB♭CEG♭GEADGBE123
Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

C1E♭♭3E3G♭♭5G5A6B♭♭7

Formula 1, ♭3, 3, ♭5, 5, 6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the C hungarian major scale on guitar?

C hungarian major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 1.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)0, 2, 3E, G♭, G
5 (A)0, 1, 3A, B♭, C
4 (D)1, 2E♭, E
3 (G)0, 2, 3G, A, B♭
2 (B)1C
1 (e)0, 2, 3E, G♭, G

Box 2 · frets 2–5

C hungarian major in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 15 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)2, 3, 5G♭, G, A
5 (A)3C
4 (D)2, 4, 5E, G♭, G
3 (G)2, 3, 5A, B♭, C
2 (B)4, 5E♭, E
1 (e)2, 3, 5G♭, G, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

C hungarian major in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the G string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)5, 6, 8A, B♭, C
5 (A)6, 7E♭, E
4 (D)5, 7, 8G, A, B♭
3 (G)5, 8C, E♭
2 (B)5, 7, 8E, G♭, G
1 (e)5, 6, 8A, B♭, C

Box 4 · frets 8–11

C hungarian major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 14 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the D string at fret 10 and the high e string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)8, 11C, E♭
5 (A)9, 10G♭, G
4 (D)8, 10B♭, C
3 (G)8, 9, 11E♭, E, G♭
2 (B)8, 10, 11G, A, B♭
1 (e)8, 11C, E♭

Box 5 · frets 11–14

C hungarian major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 15 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the B string at fret 13.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
6 (E)11, 12, 14E♭, E, G♭
5 (A)12, 13A, B♭
4 (D)13, 14E♭, E
3 (G)11, 12, 14G♭, G, A
2 (B)11, 13B♭, C
1 (e)11, 12, 14E♭, E, G♭

Why it sounds like that

C Hungarian major is C acoustic with the second degree lowered to E♭ and a major third E added. The scale retains the ♭7 B♭, giving it a dominant pull. Compare with C acoustic to hear the altered degrees.

When to use it

C Hungarian major fits C major and C minor chords, adding a ♭5. Use it over C major or C minor in jazz-rock. The scale's dual thirds allow quick major-minor shifts.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first; the root sits on string 5, fret 3 and covers frets 0–3. This position keeps the chromatic pairs within a four-fret span.

Common questions

What notes are in C Hungarian major?

C Hungarian major contains C, E♭, E, G♭, G, A, B♭. The scale includes a minor third and a major third. Its diminished fifth adds a bluesy edge.

Which chords fit C Hungarian major?

C Hungarian major works over C major and C minor chords. The ♭5 creates an altered dominant sound. Use it for rock or fusion solos.

How does C Hungarian major differ from C acoustic?

C Hungarian major lowers the second degree to E♭ and adds E as a major third. C acoustic uses D and E instead. The Hungarian major has a ♭3 and ♭5.