F♯ Hungarian Minor at a glance
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 F♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where F♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | F♯ G♯ A B♯ C♯ D E♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4A · 5P · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | W H W+H H H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | F♯mG♯(♭5)A+B♯–D–F♯C♯DE♯m |
Chords in the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
F♯ Hungarian Minor on the piano
Improvisation drone · F♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano F♯ Hungarian Minor uses three black keys (F♯, G♯ and C♯) and four white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
F♯ · G♯ · A · B♯ · C♯ · D · E♯
Try F♯ Hungarian Minor on the virtual piano
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F♯ Hungarian Minor on the guitar
F♯ Hungarian Minor - fr 0–12
F♯ Hungarian Minor on the staff
Notes of the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | G♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | A | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | B♯ | augmented 4th4A | 6 | |
| 5 | C♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | D | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | E♯ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes F♯ Hungarian Minor different
Hungarian minor is harmonic minor with a raised fourth, the one note that separates the two. The change adds a second augmented second, between ♭3 and ♯4, alongside the one between ♭6 and 7. Two half steps cluster around the fifth (♯4 to 5 and 5 to ♭6), so the fifth is squeezed from both sides, which makes it sound more dramatic than any church mode. Its tonic chord is still minor and its V chord is major. On F♯, F♯ Hungarian Minor has B♯ where F♯ Harmonic Minor has B; every other note is shared with F♯ Harmonic Minor (F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E♯).
How to use the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale
The diatonic chords of F♯ Hungarian Minor are: i = F♯m, II♭5 = G♯(♭5), III+ = A+, IV = B♯–D–F♯, V = C♯, VI = D, vii = E♯m. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in F♯ Hungarian Minor. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own 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.
Formula & step pattern
The F♯ 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.
Where you will hear F♯ Hungarian Minor
Start with the music described above: listen for F♯ Hungarian Minor in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale?
The F♯ Hungarian Minor scale contains F♯, G♯, A, B♯, C♯, D and E♯.
What is the formula for the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale?
F♯ Hungarian Minor follows harmonic minor with a raised fourth degree, producing two augmented seconds.
Is F♯ Hungarian Minor a major or minor scale?
F♯ Hungarian Minor is a hungarian minor scale. Harmonic minor with a raised fourth - eastern European folk and metal favourite.
What chords belong to the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale?
The diatonic chords of F♯ Hungarian Minor are F♯m, G♯(♭5), A+, B♯–D–F♯, C♯, D, E♯m.
Which genres use F♯ 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 you play the F♯ Hungarian Minor scale on the piano?
On the piano F♯ Hungarian Minor uses three black keys (F♯, G♯ and C♯) and four white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
What is the difference between F♯ Hungarian Minor and F♯ Harmonic Minor?
On F♯, F♯ Hungarian Minor has B♯ where F♯ Harmonic Minor has B; every other note is shared with F♯ Harmonic Minor (F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E♯).
How do I practise the F♯ 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.