D# Hungarian Minor Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
D# Hungarian Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D# Hungarian Minor scale, also known as the Gypsy Minor, is famous for its two wide melodic gaps. On Charango, its notes are D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D. It sounds powerful, mysterious, and perfectly balanced, frequently appearing in classical masterworks and modern melodic metal. Commonly used in Classical, Metal, Klezmer, Film Scores, Gypsy Jazz. Notable players include Franz Liszt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Django Reinhardt. Use over m chords in gypsy jazz and neoclassical metal. Works beautifully over i-V progressions in minor keys.
Notes: D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7
Formula: W-H-WH-H-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
Contains TWO augmented 2nd intervals (b3-#4 and b6-7), giving it an unmistakable double-exotic quality. These 'leaps' are what make it sound simultaneously Eastern European and Middle Eastern.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Classical, Metal, Klezmer, Film Scores, Gypsy Jazz
Notable players: Franz Liszt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Django Reinhardt
How to Use the D# Hungarian Minor Scale
Use over m chords in gypsy jazz and neoclassical metal. Works beautifully over i-V progressions in minor keys.
Origin & Background
Also known as the Gypsy Minor scale. Central to the Hungarian Rhapsodies of Franz Liszt and Romani musical tradition.
How to Play D# Hungarian Minor on Charango
Begin by locating D# on your instrument and play through the 7 notes of the Hungarian Minor scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The D# Hungarian Minor scale contains 3 sharps (D#, F#, A#). Its relative major is F# major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D# Hungarian Minor scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on D# to let the characteristic intervals of the Hungarian Minor scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in metal contexts.
Charango Tips
Practice the D# Hungarian Minor scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 7 notes before building speed. Aim for a powerful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The D# Hungarian Minor scale contains 7 notes (D#, F, F#, A, A#, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Charango with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D# Hungarian Minor
The D# Hungarian Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore D# Hungarian Minor Further
- Browse chord progressions
- D# Hungarian Minor on Guitar
- D# Hungarian Minor on Ukulele
- D# Hungarian Minor on Bass
- D# Hungarian Minor on Piano