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Guitar scales · Harmonic minor

C harmonic minor scale on guitar

The C scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and 7.

Notes and pattern

The C harmonic minor scale

with a raised 7th, giving minor keys a strong major V chord. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3 and 1 . The gap of 3 frets is what gives it its sound.

C is C minor with its 7th raised a : B instead of B♭. See that scale.

  1. C1
  2. D2
  3. E♭♭3
  4. F4
  5. G5
  6. A♭♭6
  7. B7
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCFGA♭BDE♭FGBDE♭FGA♭BDE♭FGA♭BDE♭FGA♭BDE♭FGA♭BDE♭FGA♭BDFGA♭BDE♭FG
  • C, the root
  • Other scale notes

Chords

Chords from the C harmonic minor scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

C harmonic minor, in short

What notes are in the C harmonic minor scale?
The C scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and 7.
What chords go with the C harmonic minor scale?
The chords built on C harmonic minor are Cm, D°, E♭+, Fm, G, A♭ and B°.
All guitar scales