The Hungarian minor scale is also called the Gypsy minor scale or the double harmonic minor scale. Spanish-language conservatory courses call it the escala oriental ("oriental scale"). It sounds like the music of the Middle East and the Balkans. Its most striking feature is the two augmented 2nds it contains.
What is the Hungarian minor scale?
It is a seven-note scale: a harmonic minor scale with a raised 4th degree. The raised 4th (♯4) and the raised 7th (the leading tone, UK: leading note) create two augmented 2nds: one between the 3rd and 4th degrees and one between the 6th and 7th. They are responsible for its exotic character. It keeps the minor 3rd of the minor scales and has a major 7th.
Structure and intervals
The pattern of whole steps (UK: tones) and half steps (UK: semitones) is:
Whole step · half step · augmented 2nd · half step · half step · augmented 2nd · half step
By degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · ♯4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7. On C: C · D · E♭ · F♯ · G · A♭ · B. (In Spanish-speaking countries the same notes are called Do Re Mi♭ Fa♯ Sol La♭ Si.)
A note on names: in English-language sources this scale is usually called the Hungarian minor, Gypsy minor or double harmonic minor scale. In Spanish-language music-theory courses it is normally the scale expected under the name "escala oriental" (or "húngara"). Other scales are also called "oriental"; they are explained at the end of the page so you do not confuse them.
Difference from the Phrygian dominant scale
Both scales have an Eastern color and augmented 2nds, but they are not the same. The Phrygian dominant scale has a major 3rd and a single augmented 2nd (between the 2nd and 3rd degrees). The Hungarian minor scale has a minor 3rd and two augmented 2nds (3rd–4th and 6th–7th). Both are related to the harmonic minor scale: the Phrygian dominant is its fifth mode, while the Hungarian minor is the harmonic minor with a raised 4th degree.
The Hungarian minor scale in all keys
The scale written from each of the 15 keys, with its correct spelling and its staff:
| Key | 1 | 2 | ♭3 | ♯4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | D | E♭ | F♯ | G | A♭ | B |
| G | G | A | B♭ | C♯ | D | E♭ | F♯ |
| D | D | E | F | G♯ | A | B♭ | C♯ |
| A | A | B | C | D♯ | E | F | G♯ |
| E | E | F♯ | G | A♯ | B | C | D♯ |
| B | B | C♯ | D | E♯ | F♯ | G | A♯ |
| F♯ | F♯ | G♯ | A | B♯ | C♯ | D | E♯ |
| C♯ | C♯ | D♯ | E | F double sharp | G♯ | A | B♯ |
| F | F | G | A♭ | B | C | D♭ | E |
| B♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E | F | G♭ | A |
| E♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ | A | B♭ | C♭ | D |
| A♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D | E♭ | F♭ | G |
| D♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G | A♭ | B double flat | C |
| G♭ | G♭ | A♭ | B double flat | C | D♭ | E double flat | F |
| C♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E double flat | F | G♭ | A double flat | B♭ |
Staff in each key
Oriental, double harmonic or Hungarian? A note on the names
The names of these "oriental" scales vary a lot between sources, so if you learned one under another name, that is normal. What really tells them apart is not the name but the notes. The scale on this page is the Hungarian minor. Here is the other well-known scale that sometimes gets the "oriental" label:
Double harmonic major (Byzantine or Arabic scale)
C · D♭ · E · F · G · A♭ · B. It is a major scale with a lowered 2nd and 6th degree. Its two augmented 2nds fall between degrees 2–3 and 6–7. It is called "oriental" in a lot of international theory, in jazz and in film music, and also the "Byzantine" scale or "double harmonic major". The Hungarian minor scale is its fourth mode.
| Scale | Notes (on C) | 3rd | Augmented 2nds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungarian minor (this page) | C D E♭ F♯ G A♭ B | minor | 3–4 and 6–7 |
| Double harmonic major | C D♭ E F G A♭ B | Major | 2–3 and 6–7 |
| Phrygian dominant | C D♭ E F G A♭ B♭ | Major | 2–3 only |
In short: all three sound "Eastern", but they are different scales. For an exam, check what your school or conservatory asks for. Whenever you are unsure, go by the notes.