A harmonic minor scale on mandolin
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 |
3 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 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: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.