Harmonic Minor Scale

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

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

Notes Ascending

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

Notes Descending

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

Notation Ascending

Notation Descending

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
C1Tonic
D2Supertonic
E3Mediant
F4Subdominant
G5Dominant
A6Submediant
B7Leading Tone
C8Tonic (Octave)

Degrees Descending

NoteNumberName
C8Tonic (Octave)
B7Leading Tone
A6Submediant
G5Dominant
F4Subdominant
E3Mediant
D2Supertonic
C1Tonic

Intervals Ascending

NotesSemitonesInterval
C > C0Perfect Unison (P1)
C > D2Major 2nd (M2)
C > E3minor 3rd (m3)
C > F5Perfect 4th (P4)
C > G7Perfect 5th (P5)
C > A8minor 6th (m6)
C > B11Major 7th (M7)
C > C12Perfect Octave (P8)

Intervals Descending

NotesSemitonesInterval
C > C0Perfect Unison (P1)
C > B1minor 2nd (m2)
C > A4Major 3rd (M3)
C > G5Perfect 4th (P4)
C > F7Perfect 5th (P5)
C > E9Major 6th (M6)
C > D10minor 7th (m7)
C > C12Perfect Octave (P8)

Scales related to C Harmonic Minor Scale

Enharmonic Equivalent Scale

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

B♯ Harmonic Minor Scale

Parallel Major Scale

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

C Major Scale

Chords related to C Harmonic Minor Scale

Related Triads

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

i Chord - C Minor

iio Chord - D Diminished

III+ Chord - E Augmented

iv Chord - F Minor

V Chord - G Major

VI Chord - A Major

viio Chord - B Diminished

Learn to Play Harmonic Minor Scale

Instrument View

See C 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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