Hungarian Minor Scale: Unlocking Exotic Colors in Your Music

Introduction: What is the Hungarian Minor Scale?

Step away from the familiar sounds of major and minor scales and venture into more evocative territory. The Hungarian Minor Scale, also known as the Gypsy Minor scale, is a captivating and dramatic-sounding scale that serves as a bridge between Western harmony and the fiery folk traditions of Eastern Europe. Characterized by its unique and tense intervals, this scale has been used by composers for centuries to evoke feelings of passion, mystery, and profound emotion. From the Romantic rhapsodies of Franz Liszt to the intricate improvisations of modern jazz and the powerful riffs of metal, the Hungarian Minor scale offers a rich palette for any musician looking to add a touch of the exotic to their work.

The Structure of a Unique Sound

The defining feature of the Hungarian Minor scale is its two augmented second intervals. These large, dissonant leaps are what give the scale its distinctive, dramatic character. It is built upon the structure of the harmonic minor scale but with one crucial difference: a raised fourth degree.

The scale formula, using scale degrees, is: 1 - 2 - b3 - #4 - 5 - b6 - 7

The interval pattern from the root is:

• Root
• Major Second
• Minor Third
• Augmented Fourth
• Perfect Fifth
• Minor Sixth
• Major Seventh

The two augmented second intervals occur between the b3 and #4, and between the b6 and 7. For example, in the key of A Hungarian Minor, the notes are A - B - C - D# - E - F - G#. The augmented seconds are between C and D#, and between F and G#.

Example: The A Hungarian Minor Scale

Here is the scale ascending and descending, written in standard notation. Listen for the unique jumps that define its sound.

Historical and Cultural Context

The scale's name points to its strong association with the music of Hungary and the Roma (Gypsy) people. In the 19th century, European classical composers developed a fascination with "exotic" sounds from folk traditions. Franz Liszt, in his famous Hungarian Rhapsodies, incorporated melodies and styles inspired by the urban Roma musicians he heard in Hungary. Later, ethnomusicologists like Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály undertook rigorous research to document authentic Magyar (Hungarian) folk music, distinguishing it from the Roma style that had captivated Liszt. The Hungarian Minor scale is more closely associated with the latter, particularly the *verbunkos* dance style, a 19th-century Hungarian recruiting dance known for its passionate, improvisatory character.

Harmonic Possibilities

The unusual intervals of the Hungarian Minor scale generate a set of equally unique and evocative chords. Harmonizing this scale opens up a world of tense, dramatic, and colorful progressions. The most characteristic chords are built on the root, the raised fourth, and the fifth.

• Tonic Chord (i): A minor triad with a major seventh, creating a beautiful and tense min(maj7) chord (e.g., A-C-E-G#). This is the harmonic center of the scale.
• Raised Subdominant Chord (#iv): A diminished triad or, more powerfully, a diminished seventh chord (e.g., D#-F-A-C). This chord creates strong chromatic voice-leading and pulls powerfully back to the tonic or to the dominant.
• Dominant Chord (V): A major triad (e.g., E-G#-B). This can be extended to a dominant 7th chord by borrowing the b7 from the natural minor (e.g., E-G#-B-D), creating a familiar V7-i resolution.

Applications in Music

The scale's potent flavor makes it a popular choice across many genres:

• Classical Music: Beyond Liszt and Bartók, composers like Brahms (in his Hungarian Dances) and Monti (in his famous violin showpiece Czardas) have used this scale and its related melodies to great effect.
• Jazz and Fusion: Jazz improvisers love the harmonic complexity and tension of the Hungarian Minor. Musicians like John Coltrane and Joe Zawinul explored exotic scales to push the boundaries of improvisation.
• Film and Game Scoring: The scale is cinematic shorthand for mystery, magic, a desert landscape, or an ancient curse. Its sound instantly transports the listener to another time or place.
• Heavy Metal: The dark, aggressive, and technically demanding nature of the scale has made it a favorite of neoclassical and progressive metal guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Romeo.

Example: A Melodic Lick

Here is a short melodic phrase in A Hungarian Minor that demonstrates how the notes can be used to create a "gypsy-style" run. This lick emphasizes the augmented second between F and G#.

How to Practice the Hungarian Minor Scale

To truly internalize the sound and feel of this scale, try these practice approaches:

1. Slow and Steady: Play the scale slowly up and down in all 12 keys. Pay close attention to the sound and feel of the augmented second intervals. Don't rush them.
2. Compare and Contrast: Play a harmonic minor scale, then immediately play the Hungarian Minor scale starting on the same note. This will train your ear to hear the #4 as the key distinguishing feature.
3. Improvise: Put on a drone or a simple Am chord backing track and improvise melodies using only the notes of the A Hungarian Minor scale. Discover what melodic patterns feel most natural.
4. Learn the Licks: Study famous melodies that use this scale, like Czardas or the main theme from Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. Learning how others have used it is a fantastic way to build your own vocabulary.

Conclusion

The Hungarian Minor scale is more than just a collection of notes; it's a gateway to a different emotional and cultural landscape. Its unique structure provides a powerful tool for composers, improvisers, and performers seeking to inject a dose of drama, passion, and exotic color into their music. By understanding its structure, harmonic function, and cultural history, you can unlock its potential and make its distinctive sound a part of your own musical expression.

References:

1. Sárosi, B. (1978) . Gypsy Music. Corvina Press.

2. Bartók, B. (1931). Hungarian Folk Music. Oxford University Press.

3. Hewitt, M. (2013). Musical Scales of the World. The Note Tree.