Sound Character: The Hungarian minor scale has a dramatic and strongly ethnic sound, with inflections reminiscent of Eastern European gypsy music. The augmented interval between the minor third and augmented fourth gives it a tense and ornamental air.
Typical Chord: mMaj7 or m7♯11 (e.g., AmMaj7)
Modal Context: Widely used in traditional Hungarian and gypsy music, but also adopted by classical composers and jazz musicians to enrich the harmonic language.
Harmonic Use: Used on minor chords with a major seventh, or in modal contexts to create richly ornamental melodies.
Musical Context
Musical Styles: Gypsy music, Romantic classical, Modal jazz, Neoclassical metal
Songs using the scale:
Hungarian Dance No. 5 – Johannes Brahms
Zigeunerweisen – Pablo de Sarasate
Romani Song – Taraf de Haïdouks
Tamacun – Rodrigo y Gabriela
Evoked Atmosphere: Dramatic, gypsy, passionate, intense, with oriental colors and melodic virtuosity.
