Harmonic Minor scale · 7 notes
A harmonic minor scale on guitar
The A harmonic minor scale has 7 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯. Natural minor with a raised 7th: dramatic, neoclassical and a little exotic.
Notes
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G♯
Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
Steps
W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H
Sound
Dramatic, classical and slightly Middle Eastern
A harmonic minor on the whole fretboard
Every A harmonic minor note from the open strings to the 15th fret in standard tuning (E A D G B E). The root, A, is shown in red so you can always find home.
A shape to learn first
You don’t need the whole neck at once. This hand position is anchored on a root note on the 6th (low E) string, which is how most guitarists find a scale in any key.
Root on the 6th (low E) string
A at fret 5. 4th position: frets 4–8.
In the Guitar Scale Finder app you also get the chords of A harmonic minor as chord diagrams, and can search all 1,860 scales for the notes you play.
Intervals and formula
Measured from A, the A harmonic minor scale is built from these intervals. It contains 1 sharp (G♯). Compared with A minor, it has G♯ (7) instead of G.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root | 0 |
| 2 | B | major 2nd | 2 |
| ♭3 | C | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 4 | D | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th | 7 |
| ♭6 | F | minor 6th | 8 |
| 7 | G♯ | major 7th | 11 |
Chords in A harmonic minor
Stack every other note of the scale and you get one chord on each degree. These are the chords that “belong” to A harmonic minor: any of them will sound at home under a melody in A harmonic minor.
- iAmA · C · EAm(maj7)
- ii°B°B · D · FBm7♭5
- ♭III+C+C · E · G♯C+maj7
- ivDmD · F · ADm7
- VEE · G♯ · BE7
- ♭VIFF · A · CFmaj7
- vii°G♯°G♯ · B · DG♯°7
Progressions to try
- Am – Dm – E i–iv–V · minor with a major V
- B° – E – Am ii°–V–i · minor jazz cadence
- Am – F – E i–♭VI–V
How to use A harmonic minor
Reach for it over minor keys where the V chord is major (or V7), neoclassical metal, flamenco-flavoured and classical-style passages. Its sound is dramatic, classical and slightly Middle Eastern.
Tip: Use it mainly over the V7 chord of a minor key (E7 in A minor). That one move makes a minor progression sound instantly “classical”.
Where to find A on every string
Knowing where the root sits lets you start this scale anywhere. Here is every A between the open string and the 12th fret.
| String | Frets with A |
|---|---|
| High E (1st) | 5 |
| B (2nd) | 10 |
| G (3rd) | 2 |
| D (4th) | 7 |
| A (5th) | 0, 12 |
| Low E (6th) | 5 |
Same notes, different name
These scales from the Scale Finder library contain exactly the same notes as A harmonic minor. They sound different because a different note is treated as home.
A harmonic minor scale FAQ
What notes are in the A harmonic minor scale?
The A harmonic minor scale has 7 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7. It contains 1 sharp (G♯).
What chords are in A harmonic minor?
Harmonising the A harmonic minor scale in thirds gives Am (i), B° (ii°), C+ (♭III+), Dm (iv), E (V), F (♭VI) and G♯° (vii°).
Where do you play the A harmonic minor scale on guitar?
The root, A, is at fret 5 on the low E string and fret 0 and 12 on the A string. A good first shape covers frets 4–8, starting from the root on the 6th string.