The Harmonic Minor Scale | Guitar

Diagrams and Charts

What's The Harmonic Minor Scale?

The harmonic minor scale contains seven notes.The interval pattern formula is 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5
-b6 - 7. It is built
the same as the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) but the seventh degree is raised by one semitone.
Comparison With Aeolian Mode
The main difference with the Aeolian mode (natural minor scale) is the seventh that is minor (b7) for the Aeolian mode whereas it is major (7) for the harmonic minor.

A natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) A B C D E F G
Formula 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
A harmonic minor scale A B C D E F G#
Formula 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
. MODES NAME .

1=The Harmonic Minor Scale A B C D E F G#
2=The Locrian #6 Mode B C D E F G# A
3=The Ionian #5 Mode   C D E F G# A B
4=The Dorian #4 mode D E F G# A B C
5=Phrygian Major   E F G# A B C D
6=Lydian #2 F G# A B C D E
7=Alt Dominant bb G# A B C D E F

A Harmonic Minor Scale  Harmonization
   A, B , C, D , E , F , G#
1, 2 , b3, 4 , 5 , b6, 7
Minor, Diminished, Augmented, Minor, Major, Major, Diminished
   7 Shapes of A Harmonic Minor Scale
Starting with A note
3 Tabs on Every Strings
Two Octave
. .
1=The Harmonic Minor Scale
A B C D E F G# over chord (Am7)

. .
2=The Locrian #6 Mode
B C D E F G# A   over chord (B half diminished)

. .
3=The Ionian #5 Mode
C D E F G# A B over chord (C #5 Major 7)

. .

4=The Dorian #4 mode

D E F G# A B C over chord (Dm7)

. .
5=Phrygian Major
E F G# A B C D over chord (E Dominant)

. .
6=Lydian #2
F G# A B C D E over chord (F Major7)

. .
7=Alt Dominant bb
G# A B C D E F over chord
(G# Full Diminished)

Harmonizing Harmonic Minor scales into chords

Chords can be constructed from scales and these are the chords that corresponds to THE HARMONIC MINOR SCALE including triads and four-note chords. The chords are not as practical for building progressions as the Natural Minor Scale since it includes more diminished and augmented chords. Also notice the uncommon minor major seventh chord (mMaj7) and the augmented major seventh chord (maj7#5) that represent the I and III four-note chords respectively.