E harmonic minor scale on banjo
The E harmonic minor scale has seven notes: E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D♯ (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7). Natural minor with a raised 7th, which leads back up to the root and makes the V chord major. The neo-classical shred sound; the jump from ♭6 to 7 is three frets wide.
| Note | E | F♯ | G | A | B | C | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | 1½ | half |
2 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the E harmonic minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; E (Em) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (E) | Emhome | – |
| 2 (F♯) | F♯dimthe edge | F♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (G) | Gaugdaylight | – |
| 4 (A) | Amsoft fall | Am7soft fall |
| 5 (B) | Bthe pull | B7the pull |
| ♭6 (C) | Ccinematic | Cmaj7cinematic |
| 7 (D♯) | D♯dimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the E minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the E harmonic minor scale?
E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W H W+H H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the E harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Em, F♯dim, Gaug, Am, B, C and D♯dim, and as seventh chords F♯m7♭5, Am7, B7 and Cmaj7. E is home: Em is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in E
E majorE minorE minor pentatonicE major pentatonicE bluesE DorianE MixolydianE LydianE PhrygianE melodic minorE Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: banjo scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and mandolin.