D Harmonic Minor Scale

The D Harmonic Minor Scale has a minor quality due to its minor Third F. The Harmonic Minor Scale, like D Harmonic Minor, is based on the D Natural Minor Scale but with a raised (by a semitone) Seventh, C in this case. This improves tonal harmony by changing the V chord to be a Dominant A Major Chord due to the now Major Third C of that chord. The D Harmonic Minor Scale is classified as a heptatonic scale as it has seven notes, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.

Below you will find the D Harmonic Minor Scale notes, notation, patterns, degrees, intervals and more. You can also opt to see the D Harmonic Minor Scale on your preferred instrument.

Theoretical Only

The D Harmonic Minor Scale is considered theoretical only as it has double sharps or flats in the key signature.

The usual alternative is the enharmonic equivalent C♯ Harmonic Minor Scale

Notes Ascending

D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D

Notes Descending

D, C, B, A, G, F, E, D

Pattern Ascending

T, S, T, T, S, TS, S

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Pattern Descending

S, TS, S, T, T, S, T

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Degrees Ascending

NoteNumberName
D1Tonic
E2Supertonic
F3Mediant
G4Subdominant
A5Dominant
B6Submediant
C7Leading Tone
D8Tonic (Octave)

Degrees Descending

NoteNumberName
D8Tonic (Octave)
C7Leading Tone
B6Submediant
A5Dominant
G4Subdominant
F3Mediant
E2Supertonic
D1Tonic

Intervals Ascending

NotesSemitonesInterval
D > D0Perfect Unison (P1)
D > E2Major 2nd (M2)
D > F3minor 3rd (m3)
D > G5Perfect 4th (P4)
D > A7Perfect 5th (P5)
D > B8minor 6th (m6)
D > C11Major 7th (M7)
D > D12Perfect Octave (P8)

Intervals Descending

NotesSemitonesInterval
D > D0Perfect Unison (P1)
D > C1minor 2nd (m2)
D > B4Major 3rd (M3)
D > A5Perfect 4th (P4)
D > G7Perfect 5th (P5)
D > F9Major 6th (M6)
D > E10minor 7th (m7)
D > D12Perfect Octave (P8)

Scales related to D Harmonic Minor Scale

Enharmonic Equivalent Scale

Scale with the same root and notes as the D Harmonic Minor Scale but different spelling.

C♯ Harmonic Minor Scale

Parallel Major Scale

Major scale with the same root note as D Harmonic Minor Scale.

D Major Scale

Chords related to D Harmonic Minor Scale

Related Triads

These chords have been built using the notes of the D Harmonic Minor Scale. The chords are in degree order and shown in Roman numerals (lowercase = minor/diminished, uppercase = Major/Augmented).

i Chord - D Minor

iio Chord - E Diminished

III+ Chord - F Augmented

iv Chord - G Minor

V Chord - A Major

VI Chord - A Major

viio Chord - C Diminished

Learn to Play D Harmonic Minor Scale

Instrument View

See D Harmonic Minor Scale on

If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.

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