C harmonic minor scale on guitar
The C harmonic minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B (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 | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | 1½ | half |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C 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; C (Cm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Cmhome | – |
| 2 (D) | Ddimthe edge | Dm7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (E♭) | E♭augdaylight | – |
| 4 (F) | Fmsoft fall | Fm7soft fall |
| 5 (G) | Gthe pull | G7the pull |
| ♭6 (A♭) | A♭cinematic | A♭maj7cinematic |
| 7 (B) | Bdimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the C minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the C harmonic minor scale?
C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B. 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 C harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Cm, Ddim, E♭aug, Fm, G, A♭ and Bdim, and as seventh chords Dm7♭5, Fm7, G7 and A♭maj7. C is home: Cm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.