Ab Hungarian Minor Scale

Notes in the Ab Hungarian Minor Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic Ab 415.305 Hz
2 Supertonic Bb 466.164 Hz
♭3 Minor Mediant B 493.883 Hz
♯4 Augmented 4th D 293.665 Hz
5 Dominant Eb 311.127 Hz
♭6 Minor Submediant E 329.628 Hz
7 Leading Tone G 391.995 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: W-H-A2-H-H-A2-H
Step Interval Semitones From Note To Note
1 Whole Step (W) 2 Ab Bb
2 Half Step (H) 1 Bb B
3 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 B D
4 Half Step (H) 1 D Eb
5 Half Step (H) 1 Eb E
6 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 E G
7 Half Step (H) 1 G Ab

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Degree Note Chord Quality
1 Ab Ab minor minor
2 Bb Bb (complex) other
♭3 B B augmented augmented
♯4 D D (complex) other
5 Eb Eb major
♭6 E E major
7 G G minor minor

Key Signature

4 — The Ab key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.

Ab Hungarian Minor Scale in Practice

The Ab Hungarian Minor Scale uses the key signature of 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db). Ab major has four flats and a full, somewhat dark sound. It is a common key in Romantic piano music and is frequently encountered in orchestral and choral writing. On guitar, Ab positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.

The Hungarian minor scale features two augmented second intervals and a raised 4th degree, creating a haunting, Eastern European character. It is central to Hungarian and Romani folk music traditions.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Note Equal Temp. Pythagorean Just Intonation
Ab 415.305 Hz 417.657 Hz 418.601 Hz
Bb 466.164 Hz 463.538 Hz 470.926 Hz
B 493.883 Hz 495.000 Hz 490.548 Hz
D 293.665 Hz 293.332 Hz 294.329 Hz
Eb 311.127 Hz 309.026 Hz 313.951 Hz
E 329.628 Hz 330.001 Hz 327.032 Hz
G 391.995 Hz 391.111 Hz 392.438 Hz

Related Scales

Transposing Instruments: Ab Hungarian Minor Scale

Ab is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Ab concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Ab sound a major sixth lower.