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Explore scales · Ukulele

C♯ hungarian gypsy scale on ukulele

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy uses C♯, D♯, E, F♯♯, G♯, A, B. The ♯4 F♯♯ sits on the 1st fret of string 3 in Box 1.

G♯ABC♯D♯EF♯♯G♯BC♯GCEA1234
Positions on the neck1 of 4

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯♯♯4G♯5A♭6B♭7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, ♯4, 5, ♭6, ♭7

Chords these notes build

How do you play the C♯ hungarian gypsy scale on ukulele?

C♯ hungarian gypsy in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (G)1, 2, 4G♯, A, B
3 (C)1, 3, 4C♯, D♯, E
2 (E)3, 4F♯♯, G♯
1 (A)2, 4B, C♯

Box 2 · frets 3–6

C♯ hungarian gypsy in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the C string at fret 3 up to D♯ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.

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

Box 3 · frets 7–10

C♯ hungarian gypsy in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯♯ on the C string at fret 7 up to F♯♯ on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (G)8, 9D♯, E
3 (C)7, 8, 9F♯♯, G♯, A
2 (E)7, 9B, C♯
1 (A)7, 10E, F♯♯

Box 4 · frets 9–12

C♯ hungarian gypsy in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string
StringFretsNotes
4 (G)9, 12E, F♯♯
3 (C)9, 11A, B
2 (E)9, 11, 12C♯, D♯, E
1 (A)10, 11, 12F♯♯, G♯, A

Why it sounds like that

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy raises the 4th of C♯ natural minor to F♯♯, creating a diminished 5th from C♯ and a minor 2nd from G♯. The scale keeps the minor 3rd E and minor 7th B, so it retains a dark minor quality. This alteration adds a tritone between C♯ and F♯♯ and between D♯ and A. Compare it with C♯ natural minor.

When to use it

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. The ♯4 F♯♯ works over D♯ 7th flat 5 and D♯ 7th sharp 5. Use it for dark folk or Eastern European lines in C♯ minor. Try it over C♯ minor and E♭ 7th flat 5.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root C♯ on string 3, fret 1 and covers frets 1–4.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ Hungarian Gypsy?

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯♯, G♯, A, B. The scale has a minor 3rd and a raised 4th. It is a seven-note scale. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords does C♯ Hungarian Gypsy fit?

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. The ♯4 F♯♯ also works over D♯ 7th flat 5 and D♯ 7th sharp 5. Use it over minor progressions with a raised 4th.

Is C♯ Hungarian Gypsy the same as C♯ natural minor?

C♯ Hungarian Gypsy raises the 4th of C♯ natural minor from F♯ to F♯♯. The other notes are the same. This creates a tritone between C♯ and F♯♯.