A harmonic minor scale on bass
The A harmonic minor scale has seven notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯ (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 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | 1½ | half |
7 positions to learn it in
Played three notes on every string, the A harmonic minor scale has a position starting on each of its notes. They are good for speed, with the same picking pattern on every string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the A 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; A (Am) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (A) | Amhome | – |
| 2 (B) | Bdimthe edge | Bm7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (C) | Caugdaylight | – |
| 4 (D) | Dmsoft fall | Dm7soft fall |
| 5 (E) | Ethe pull | E7the pull |
| ♭6 (F) | Fcinematic | Fmaj7cinematic |
| 7 (G♯) | G♯dimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the A minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the A harmonic minor scale?
A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯. 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 A harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Am, Bdim, Caug, Dm, E, F and G♯dim, and as seventh chords Bm7♭5, Dm7, E7 and Fmaj7. A is home: Am is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in A
A majorA minorA minor pentatonicA major pentatonicA bluesA DorianA MixolydianA LydianA PhrygianA melodic minorA Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: bass scales. This scale on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.