A♭ Hungarian Minor scale
The A♭ Hungarian Minor scale is a 7-note hungarian minor scale built on the root A♭. Its notes are A♭, B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F♭ and G. Harmonic minor with a raised fourth - eastern European folk and metal favourite. This page covers the formula, fingerings, diatonic chords and common progressions that make A♭ Hungarian Minor a great tool for improvising and composing.
Hungarian minor is everywhere in eastern European folk and gypsy jazz. Those two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable and super dramatic. Built on the root A♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
- Notes
- A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D · E♭ · F♭ · G
- Formula
- 1P · 2M · 3m · 4A · 5P · 6m · 7M
- Step pattern
- W H W+H H H W+H H
- Tonic
- A♭
A♭ Hungarian Minor on the piano
A♭ Hungarian Minor on the guitar
A♭ Hungarian Minor on the staff
Hear the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale
Improvisation drone
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
Notes of the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1P | 0 | A♭(Ab) | |
| 2 | 2M | 2 | B♭(Bb) | |
| 3 | 3m | 3 | C♭(Cb) | |
| 4 | 4A | 6 | D | |
| 5 | 5P | 7 | E♭(Eb) | |
| 6 | 6m | 8 | F♭(Fb) | |
| 7 | 7M | 11 | G |
Diatonic chords of A♭ Hungarian Minor
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
How to use the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale
The diatonic chords of A♭ Hungarian Minor are: i = A♭m, II = B♭, III+ = C♭+, IV = D, V = E♭, VI = F♭, vii = Gm. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♭ Hungarian Minor. Click any chord below to open its full diagram and progressions.
Hungarian minor is everywhere in eastern European folk and gypsy jazz. Those two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable and super dramatic.
Practice tips
Those two augmented seconds (♭3 to ♯4 and ♭6 to 7) are tricky to play smoothly. Drill them slowly with a metronome before attempting full scale runs.
Famous songs
A♭ Hungarian Minor appears throughout hungarian minor is everywhere in eastern european folk and gypsy jazz. those two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable and super dramatic. Listening to music in this scale and transcribing short phrases is the fastest way to absorb its sound.
Formula & step pattern
The A♭ Hungarian Minor scale follows harmonic minor with a raised fourth degree, producing two augmented seconds. Step pattern: W - H - W+H - H - H - W+H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4A · 5P · 6m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Questions people ask
- What notes are in the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale?
- The A♭ Hungarian Minor scale contains A♭, B♭, C♭, D, E♭, F♭ and G.
- What is the formula for the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale?
- A♭ Hungarian Minor follows harmonic minor with a raised fourth degree, producing two augmented seconds.
- Is A♭ Hungarian Minor a major or minor scale?
- A♭ Hungarian Minor is a hungarian minor scale. Harmonic minor with a raised fourth - eastern European folk and metal favourite.
- What chords belong to the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale?
- The diatonic chords of A♭ Hungarian Minor are A♭m, B♭, C♭+, D, E♭, F♭, Gm.
- Which genres use A♭ Hungarian Minor?
- Hungarian minor is everywhere in eastern European folk and gypsy jazz. Those two augmented seconds make it instantly recognisable and super dramatic.
- How do I practise the A♭ Hungarian Minor scale?
- Those two augmented seconds (♭3 to ♯4 and ♭6 to 7) are tricky to play smoothly. Drill them slowly with a metronome before attempting full scale runs.