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Harmonic minor scale

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.

Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7: seven notes, dark, with a strong pull home.

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.

Hear the harmonic minor scale

Here on A, A harmonic minor. From the root up to the root: 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 harmonic minor scale by scale degree, on A
DegreeOn AFrom the root
1ARoot
2BMajor second
♭3CMinor third
4DPerfect fourth
5EPerfect fifth
♭6FMinor sixth
7G♯Major seventh

Its chords, one on each note: i ii° ♭III+ iv V ♭VI vii°. On A that is Am Bdim Caug Dm E F G♯dim.

The harmonic minor scale in every key

The same steps from each of the twelve notes. Open one for its keyboard, its chords and a beat to play it over.

The harmonic minor scale on all twelve notes
ScaleNotes
C harmonic minorC D E♭ F G A♭ B
C♯ harmonic minorC♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B♯
D harmonic minorD E F G A B♭ C♯
E♭ harmonic minorE♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D
E harmonic minorE F♯ G A B C D♯
F harmonic minorF G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E
F♯ harmonic minorF♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E♯
G harmonic minorG A B♭ C D E♭ F♯
G♯ harmonic minorG♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F𝄪
A harmonic minorA B C D E F G♯
B♭ harmonic minorB♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A
B harmonic minorB C♯ D E F♯ G A♯

Questions about the harmonic minor scale

What is the harmonic minor scale?

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.

What is the formula of the harmonic minor scale?

1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7: 7 notes, counted from the major scale on the same root. Its steps from the root up to the root are: whole, half, whole, whole, half, step and a half, half.

How do I play the harmonic minor scale in any key?

Start on any note and follow the steps above. A harmonic minor: A B C D E F G♯; C harmonic minor: C D E♭ F G A♭ B; E harmonic minor: E F♯ G A B C D♯. Every key is on this page, each with its own page and keyboard.

More scales and modes

Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Build a song on the harmonic minor scale

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

Make a beat in A minorAll music scales

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