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F hungarian gypsy scale on guitar
F Hungarian Gypsy uses F, G, A♭, B, C, D♭, E♭. Box 1 places the root on low E fret 1 and D string fret 3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the F hungarian gypsy scale on guitar?
F hungarian gypsy in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4 | B, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 4 | A♭, B |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
F hungarian gypsy in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 15 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the D string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4 | G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6 | B, C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4 | G, A♭ |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
F hungarian gypsy in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 9 | B, C, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10 | B, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9 | G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 9 | B, C, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
F hungarian gypsy in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 13 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10, 11 | B, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | A♭, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F hungarian gypsy in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 14 | A♭, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 13, 14 | B, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
Take F natural minor and raise the fourth from B♭ to B. That gives a 1½-step from A♭ to B and a half-step from B to C. Compare with F natural minor to hear the change.
When to use it
Use it over F minor or F 5th for a tense, eastern colour. The ♯4 adds bite to F minor vamps. It suits Hungarian folk, metal, and fusion lines. Try it over F 5th for a raw drone.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on the sixth and fourth strings, anchoring the scale in the lowest frets.
Common questions
What notes are in F Hungarian Gypsy?
F, G, A♭, B, C, D♭, E♭. The scale has a raised fourth and a minor third. It is a seven-note scale.
Which chords fit F Hungarian Gypsy?
F minor and F 5th are the most common. The ♯4 creates tension over minor chords. Use it for a dark, exotic sound.
How does the B affect the scale?
The B creates a wide leap from A♭ and a half-step to C. This gives the scale its distinctive eastern flavour. It is the only note that differs from natural minor.