Scales › harmonic minor

harmonic minor scale

classical minor, augmented second

harmonic minor on the guitar: the fretboard diagram

Here is the harmonic minor scale laid out across the whole neck, from fret 0 to fret 15. The guide tones (3rd and 7th) are highlighted — they're what makes the scale's color sing. Use the key selector above to shift the shape along the neck and find the positions in your key.

What color?

Minor with b6 (b13) and major seventh, creating the famous augmented second between b13 and 7 with its classical, Eastern flavor. You draw on it over a minor when you want the dramatic tension of the leading tone pulling to the tonic.

Origin & history

The harmonic minor formalizes a practice of the Baroque and Classical eras: the seventh of the natural minor is raised to obtain a leading tone, and thus a dominant that resolves firmly to the tonic. The augmented second between its 6th and 7th degrees gives it its characteristic color; neoclassical metal has made intensive use of it.

Which chords to play it on?

The jazz consensus (Aebersold) recommends it on:

Sibling modes

The harmonic minor scale is one of the modes of the harmonic minor : it shares exactly the same notes as the modes below, but built on a different degree of the parent scale (harmonic minor).

Try it in a real chart

Paste a chord chart into the tool: Pentania tells you, chord by chord, when this scale fits — and what other colors are open to you. Open the tool →