D harmonic minor scale on guitar
The D harmonic minor scale has seven notes: D, E, F, G, A, B♭ and C♯ (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 | D | E | F | G | A | B♭ | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 D 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; D (Dm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (D) | Dmhome | – |
| 2 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (F) | Faugdaylight | – |
| 4 (G) | Gmsoft fall | Gm7soft fall |
| 5 (A) | Athe pull | A7the pull |
| ♭6 (B♭) | B♭cinematic | B♭maj7cinematic |
| 7 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the D minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the D harmonic minor scale?
D, E, F, G, A, B♭ and C♯. 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 D harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Dm, Edim, Faug, Gm, A, B♭ and C♯dim, and as seventh chords Em7♭5, Gm7, A7 and B♭maj7. D is home: Dm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in D
D majorD minorD minor pentatonicD major pentatonicD bluesD DorianD MixolydianD LydianD PhrygianD melodic minorD 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.