ArpeggiosEN

Scale quality

harmonic minor

Harmonic minor is the minor scale with a raised seventh, created by the need for a leading tone in classical harmony. The raised seventh makes the tonic chord minor-major and turns the dominant into a major chord, so the scale resolves with real force. Its most striking feature is the augmented second between the flat sixth and the natural seventh, an exotic leap that gives the scale its Middle Eastern, Baroque and neoclassical flavour. It is the parent of the harmonic minor family — six more qualities are built from its degrees. Listen for the augmented second and the strong pull of the leading tone.

Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
Notes
C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B♯
Family
Harmonic minor modes

Notation in C♯

representative key
4412♭345♭671

Fretboard — frets 0–12

C♯ harmonic minor — frets 0 to 12, 45 notes, roots in orange♭345♭6712♭3712♭345♭65♭6712♭342♭345♭671♭6712♭345♭6♭345♭6712♭30123456789101112
C♯ harmonic minor — frets 0 to 12, 45 notes, roots in orange♭345♭6712♭3712♭345♭65♭6712♭342♭345♭671♭6712♭345♭6♭345♭6712♭30123456789101112

All 17 keys

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Same family

How to practise this scale

  • Play the augmented second between the flat sixth and the seventh slowly.
  • Resolve the leading tone to the root and feel the strong pull.
  • Improvise a classical phrase that uses the raised seventh as a pivot.
  • Compare it with aeolian and hear what raising the seventh changes.