E 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

EADGBEEF♯GABCD♯EABCD♯EF♯GAD♯EF♯GABCGABCD♯EF♯GBCD♯EF♯GABEF♯GABCD♯E0123456789101112

Open position

EADGBEEF♯GABCD♯EF♯GABBCD♯EF♯G01234

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
1Eroot
2F♯ (F sharp)major second
3Gminor third
4Aperfect fourth
5Bperfect fifth
6Cminor sixth
7D♯ (D sharp)major seventh

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

A variant of the E natural minor scale.

Chords of the scale

Triads built on each degree:

  1. Emi
  2. F♯dimii°
  3. GaugIII+
  4. Amiv
  5. BV
  6. CVI
  7. D♯dimvii°

Other E scales

The same scale in other keys