The Hungarian minor scale, double harmonic minor scale, or Gypsy minor scale is a type of combined musical scale. It is the fourth mode of the double harmonic scale. It is the same as the harmonic minor scale, except that it has a raised fourth scale degree to introduce an additional gap, or augmented second. It is a symmetrical scale with a slightly ambiguous tonal centre, due to the many half steps. Its step pattern is W, H, +, H, H, +, H, where W indicates a whole step, H indicates a half step, and + indicates an augmented second. The scale contains two augmented seconds, one in each tetrachord. It also contains an augmented fourth between the first and fourth degree. This scale is the one perfectly balanced seven-note subset of the equally tempered chromatic scale: when its pitches are represented as points in a circle whose full circumference represents an octave, their average position is the centre of the circle. Other examples include the Dorian mode of major and fifth mode of melodic minor. The axis of balance for the Hungarian minor passes through the fifth and the flat nine, which is not included in the pitch set. The scale may be used with minor or m+7 chords. See: chord-scale system. Chords that may be derived from the B Hungarian minor scale are Bm, C#75, Daug, F#, G7 and A#m6. This scale is obtainable from the doubleharmonic scale by starting from the fourth of that scale, so the C Hungarian minor scale is equivalent to the G double harmonic scale. An alternative version is the asymmetric Aeolian ♯4 scale, the only difference with the Hungarian minor scale being that the 7th degree of the scale is not raised. This form of the scale can also be used in the fourth mode and would then be referred to as the Neapolitan scale. In Indian classicalCarnatic music, Hungarian minor scale corresponds to Simhendramadhyamam, while the Gypsy variant corresponds to Shanmukhapriya
Usage
Measures 5–6 of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. The Pink Panther Theme, originally played in the key of E minor, is noted for its quirky, unusual use of chromaticism which is derived from this scale. Joe Satriani has composed several songs using the Hungarian minor scale. Oli Herbert of the AmericanMelodic Metalcore band All That Remains uses the Hungarian minor scale in his playing. Cannibal Corpse's song "Rabid" off of their Torture album is written in the Hungarian minor scale. The second section of Klaus Schulze's long composition "Ludwig II" from the albumX has a theme built on an ascending Hungarian minor scale. The song "Worth It" by Fifth Harmony features a saxophone riff written in this scale. Chopin's F minor "The Bees" Etude is almost entirely written in this scale.
