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A harmonic minor scale

The A harmonic minor scale is A B C D E F G♯: seven notes, dark, with a strong pull home. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.

Make a beat in A minor

Opens the free editor with a trap beat in A minor to play A harmonic minor over. No account needed to start.

The notes of A harmonic minor

From A up to A: whole, half, whole, whole, half, step and a half, half. Tap a key to hear it.

A B C D E F G♯ A

ABCDEFAG♯
The notes of A harmonic minor scale by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1ARoot
2BMajor second
♭3CMinor third
4DPerfect fourth
5EPerfect fifth
♭6FMinor sixth
7G♯Major seventh

How A harmonic minor is built

The A minor scale with G raised to G♯. The raised seventh sits a half step below A, so it pulls hard back home, and it makes the fifth chord E major.

The natural minor scale with its seventh raised a half step. That note makes the fifth chord major, so it pulls hard back home, and the step and a half below it gives the scale its classical, exotic sound. The harmonic minor scale in every key.

Chords in A harmonic minor

One chord on each note of the scale, built from its own notes. The numeral says which note it starts on, against the A major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

Play A harmonic minor over a beat

A beat on the chords of A minor. Play the scale over it on the keyboard above, then open it in the editor and add your melody as its own part.

Hear it as

Questions about A harmonic minor

What notes are in the A harmonic minor scale?

A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, counted from the major scale on A, and its steps from A up to A are: whole, half, whole, whole, half, step and a half, half.

How is A harmonic minor different from A minor?

It raises G to G♯. The raised seventh, a half step below A, makes the fifth chord E major, which pulls hard back to A minor.

Build a song in A harmonic minor

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.