Harmonic minor scale on guitar
Minor with a raised 7th. Strong dominant pull. Formula 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7. In A, the harmonic minor scale is A, B, C, D, E, F, G#.
Formula and step pattern
Steps between neighbouring notes, closing on the octave: W H W W H W+H H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones).
| Degree | Semitones from root | In A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | A |
| 2 | 2 | B |
| b3 | 3 | C |
| 4 | 5 | D |
| 5 | 7 | E |
| b6 | 8 | F |
| 7 | 11 | G# |
Harmonic minor scale notes in all 12 keys
The root fret columns show where each key starts on the 6th (low E) and 5th (A) strings in standard tuning.
| Key | Notes | Root on 6th string | Root on 5th string |
|---|---|---|---|
| C harmonic minor | C D Eb F G Ab B | 8 | 3 |
| C# harmonic minor | C# D# E F# G# A B# | 9 | 4 |
| D harmonic minor | D E F G A Bb C# | 10 | 5 |
| Eb harmonic minor | Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb D | 11 | 6 |
| E harmonic minor | E F# G A B C D# | Open (and 12) | 7 |
| F harmonic minor | F G Ab Bb C Db E | 1 | 8 |
| F# harmonic minor | F# G# A B C# D E# | 2 | 9 |
| G harmonic minor | G A Bb C D Eb F# | 3 | 10 |
| Ab harmonic minor | Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb G | 4 | 11 |
| A harmonic minor | A B C D E F G# | 5 | Open (and 12) |
| Bb harmonic minor | Bb C Db Eb F Gb A | 6 | 1 |
| B harmonic minor | B C# D E F# G A# | 7 | 2 |
Fretboard positions: A harmonic minor
Root in solid cyan, scale tones outlined, from the open strings to fret 15. Slide the pattern along the neck to change key, using the root frets in the table above.
Pick another root in the scale trainer to light up the harmonic minor scale in any key.
Chords that fit A harmonic minor
Chords from the chord library built only from notes of A harmonic minor (A B C D E F G#).
Related scales
- Natural minor scale: One note apart: Natural minor has b7 where harmonic minor has 7.
- Melodic minor scale: One note apart: Melodic minor has 6 where harmonic minor has b6.