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D harmonic minor scale

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

Make a beat in D minor

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

The notes of D harmonic minor

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

D E F G A B♭ C♯ D

DEFGADB♭C♯
The notes of D harmonic minor scale by scale degree
DegreeNoteFrom the root
1DRoot
2EMajor second
♭3FMinor third
4GPerfect fourth
5APerfect fifth
♭6B♭Minor sixth
7C♯Major seventh

How D harmonic minor is built

The D minor scale with C raised to C♯. The raised seventh sits a half step below D, so it pulls hard back home, and it makes the fifth chord A 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 D 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 D major scale: capitals are major, small letters minor.

Play D harmonic minor over a beat

A beat on the chords of D 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 D harmonic minor

What notes are in the D harmonic minor scale?

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

How is D harmonic minor different from D minor?

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

Build a song in D harmonic minor

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