F harmonic minor scale on mandolin
The F harmonic minor scale has seven notes: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ and E (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 | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 F 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; F (Fm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (F) | Fmhome | – |
| 2 (G) | Gdimthe edge | Gm7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (A♭) | A♭augdaylight | – |
| 4 (B♭) | B♭msoft fall | B♭m7soft fall |
| 5 (C) | Cthe pull | C7the pull |
| ♭6 (D♭) | D♭cinematic | D♭maj7cinematic |
| 7 (E) | Edimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the F minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the F harmonic minor scale?
F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ and E. 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 F harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Fm, Gdim, A♭aug, B♭m, C, D♭ and Edim, and as seventh chords Gm7♭5, B♭m7, C7 and D♭maj7. F is home: Fm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in F
F majorF minorF minor pentatonicF major pentatonicF bluesF DorianF MixolydianF LydianF PhrygianF melodic minorF 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.