B harmonic minor scale on ukulele
The B harmonic minor scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯ (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 | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G | A♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 B 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; B (Bm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (B) | Bmhome | – |
| 2 (C♯) | C♯dimthe edge | C♯m7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (D) | Daugdaylight | – |
| 4 (E) | Emsoft fall | Em7soft fall |
| 5 (F♯) | F♯the pull | F♯7the pull |
| ♭6 (G) | Gcinematic | Gmaj7cinematic |
| 7 (A♯) | A♯dimthe edge | – |
Scales with the same notes
Compare the B minor scale, its natural minor.
Questions
What notes are in the B harmonic minor scale?
B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯. 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 B harmonic minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Bm, C♯dim, Daug, Em, F♯, G and A♯dim, and as seventh chords C♯m7♭5, Em7, F♯7 and Gmaj7. B is home: Bm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
The harmonic minor scale in every key
Other scales in B
B majorB minorB minor pentatonicB major pentatonicB bluesB DorianB MixolydianB LydianB PhrygianB melodic minorB Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: ukulele scales. This scale on guitar, bass, mandolin and banjo.