Hungarian minor scale
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian minor scale, Double Harmonic minor scale, or Gypsy minor scale, is a type of combined musical scale
. It is the same as the harmonic minor scale, except that it has a raised fourth scale degree. Its tonal center is slightly ambiguous, due to the large number of half steps. Also known as Double Harmonic Minor, or Harmonic Minor 4, it figures prominently in Eastern European music, particularly in gypsy music. Melodies based on this scale have an exotic, romantic flavor for listeners accustomed to more typical Western scales.
A very clear way to see this is with the Hungarian Minor scale in the key of A. The notes in this scale would be A B C D# E F G#. In this example the D# is the raised 4th and the G# is the raised 7th. As a second, more complex example, a Hungarian minor scale in the key of C would proceed as follows: C D E♭ F♯ G A♭ B.
Its step pattern is w - h - + - h - h - + - h, where w indicates a whole step, h indicates a half step, and + indicates an augmented second, which looks like a minor third on a keyboard but is notationally distinct.
Chords that may be derived from the A Hungarian Minor scale are Am, B7♭5, C+, E, F7 and G#m6.
Chords that may be derived from the C Hungarian Minor scale are Cm, D7♭5, Eb+, G, A♭7 and Bm6.
This scale is obtainable from the Arabic scale
by starting from the fourth of that scale. Said another way, the C Hungarian minor scale is equivalent to the G Arabic scale.
In Enix's video game The Illusion of Gaia, the flute melody found in the Inca Ruins uses the C Hungarian minor scale (a ♯4 is used in the second phrase); this music is also quoted in the music of the Larai Cliff stage, transposed to D.
Joe Satriani
has composed several songs using the Hungarian minor scale, and film composer Danny Elfman
has frequently used it in his soundtrack work. Oli Herbert of the American Melodic Metalcore band All That Remains
uses the Hungarian minor scale in his playing.
The fourth mode of the scale is Phrygian major
.
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
. It is the same as the harmonic minor scale, except that it has a raised fourth scale degree. Its tonal center is slightly ambiguous, due to the large number of half steps. Also known as Double Harmonic Minor, or Harmonic Minor 4, it figures prominently in Eastern European music, particularly in gypsy music. Melodies based on this scale have an exotic, romantic flavor for listeners accustomed to more typical Western scales.
A very clear way to see this is with the Hungarian Minor scale in the key of A. The notes in this scale would be A B C D# E F G#. In this example the D# is the raised 4th and the G# is the raised 7th. As a second, more complex example, a Hungarian minor scale in the key of C would proceed as follows: C D E♭ F♯ G A♭ B.
Its step pattern is w - h - + - h - h - + - h, where w indicates a whole step, h indicates a half step, and + indicates an augmented second, which looks like a minor third on a keyboard but is notationally distinct.
Chords that may be derived from the A Hungarian Minor scale are Am, B7♭5, C+, E, F7 and G#m6.
Chords that may be derived from the C Hungarian Minor scale are Cm, D7♭5, Eb+, G, A♭7 and Bm6.
This scale is obtainable from the Arabic scale
Arabic scale
Arabic scale may refer to:*Double harmonic scale, a scale with two augmented seconds*Quarter tone scale, or 24 tone equal temperament*17 equal temperament, a tuning dividing the octave into 17 equal steps*Major locrian scale, a scale similar to locrian...
by starting from the fourth of that scale. Said another way, the C Hungarian minor scale is equivalent to the G Arabic scale.
In Enix's video game The Illusion of Gaia, the flute melody found in the Inca Ruins uses the C Hungarian minor scale (a ♯4 is used in the second phrase); this music is also quoted in the music of the Larai Cliff stage, transposed to D.
Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
has composed several songs using the Hungarian minor scale, and film composer Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
has frequently used it in his soundtrack work. Oli Herbert of the American Melodic Metalcore band All That Remains
All That Remains (band)
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
uses the Hungarian minor scale in his playing.
The fourth mode of the scale is Phrygian major
Phrygian dominant scale
In music, the altered Phrygian scale or Freygish scale , featuring an unusual key signature and a distinctive augmented second interval, is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant...
.