C harmonic minor scale on guitar

The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th degree of the natural minor: this leading tone creates a major dominant chord. The step and a half between the 6th and 7th degrees gives it an exotic flavor.

On the whole neck

EADGBEFGA♭BCDE♭BCDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭BCDGA♭BCDE♭FGBCDE♭FGA♭BFGA♭BCDE♭0123456789101112

Position from fret 7

EADGBEBCDE♭FGA♭BCDE♭FGA♭BCDE♭7891011

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Croot
2Dmajor second
3E♭ (E flat)minor third
4Fperfect fourth
5Gperfect fifth
6A♭ (A flat)minor sixth
7Bmajor seventh

Steps between notes: W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step)

A variant of the C natural minor scale.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Cmi
  2. Ddimii°
  3. E♭augIII+
  4. Fmiv
  5. GV
  6. A♭VI
  7. Bdimvii°

Other C scales

The same scale in other keys