Harmonic Minor Scales
The Harmonic Minor Scale is one of three minor scales. The other two are the Natural Minor and the Melodic Minor. The sound of the Harmonic Scale is somewhat characterized by the music of the Middle East.
The Harmonic Minor differs from the Natural Minor by the sharpened seventh note, and this minor scale is consequently not played in the same way as the relative major scale. The less common Harmonic Major scale can instead be seen as a relative to the Harmonic minor.
A
Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#, A
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
A# / Bb
Notes: A#, C, C#, D#, F, F#, A, A#
Fingering (LH): 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2
Fingering (RH): 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4
B
Notes: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A#, B
Fingering (LH): 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
C
Notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
C# / Db
Notes: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, C, C#
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Fingering (RH): 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
D
Notes: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
D# / Eb
Notes: D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B, D, D#
Fingering (LH): 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2
Fingering (RH): 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3
E
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#, E
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
F
Notes: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4
F# / Gb
Notes: F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, F, F#
Fingering (LH): 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
G
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G
Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1
Fingering (RH): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
G# / Ab
Notes: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, G, G#
Fingering (LH): 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3
Fingering (RH): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
Harmonic Minor Scales overview
A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#, A
A#/Bb: A#, C, C#, D#, F, F#, A, A# (theoretically correct is B#, E# and G## instead of C, F and A) / Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb
B: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A#, B
C: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, C, C# (theoretically correct is B# instead of C) / Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, A, C, Db
D: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D
D#/Eb: D#, F, F#, G#, A#, B, D, D# (theoretically correct is E# and C## instead of F and D) / Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb
E: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#, E
F: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, F, F# (theoretically correct is E# instead of F) / Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Ebb, F, Gb
G: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, G, G# (theoretically correct is F## instead of G) / Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, G, Ab
Fingering: 1 = Thumb | 2 = index finger | 3 = middle finger | 4 = ring finger | 5 = little finger.
LH = Left hand | RH = Right hand
Intervals and steps
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Semi-notes: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1
Formula: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole and a half, Half
Harmonic Minor scales with note letters (sheet music PDF)
The Harmonic Minor scales in musical notes are available in the member area.
The scale in all keys with fingerings (without note names) can be downloaded as a PDF-file.
Modes
There are seven modes (modes can be seen as alternate versions of scales) of the Harmonic Minor Scale:
- Harmonic Minor mode 1 - identical to the scale presented above
- Harmonic Minor mode 2 - Locrian #13
- Harmonic Minor mode 3 - Ionian #5
- Harmonic Minor mode 4 - Dorian #11
- Harmonic Minor mode 5 - Phrygian dominant
- Harmonic Minor mode 6 - Lydian #2
- Harmonic Minor mode 7 - Super Locrian.
These are explained more in detail in the fourth part of the Lesson Series in the member area.
See also harmonizing the Harmonic Minor Scale into chords.
Backing tracks
Backing tracks including Harmonic Minor scales presented by Pianoscales.org.
The Harmonic Minor is often used in combination with the Natural Minor when improvising. In the 16-bar instrumental song below, C# and C#7 chords are played in the bar 8th and bar 16th and you should change to the F#m Harmonic Minor when.
Track list (selection)
F#m Campfire
Show scales
All tracks plus real-time directions for scale choices are available for members. Become a member.