Harmonic Minor Scale Guitar
Take the natural minor scale and raise the 7th by a semitone. That single change creates an exotic augmented second, strengthens harmonic resolution, and produces one of the most dramatic sounds in all of music, from Bach to Yngwie Malmsteen to Middle Eastern folk traditions.
Try it interactively
See every harmonic minor position across all 6 strings. Select any root note and switch to Natural Minor to hear exactly what the raised 7th changes.
What Is the Harmonic Minor Scale?
The harmonic minor scale is a modified natural minor scale. The only difference: the 7th degree is raised by one semitone (half step) from ♭7 to a natural 7. In A harmonic minor, this means G becomes G♯.
This small change has two major consequences. First, it creates a strong leading tone, a note just a semitone below the root that wants urgently to resolve upward. Second, it creates an augmented second (3 semitones) between the ♭6 and the natural 7, which gives the scale its exotic quality.
A Harmonic Minor
Intervals: Root — 2 — ♭3 — 4 — 5 — ♭6 — 7
Semitones from root: 0 — 2 — 3 — 5 — 7 — 8 — 11
vs. Natural Minor: identical except G (♭7) → G♯ (7)
Interval Formula
W H W W H 1½ H
Intervals: Root — Major 2nd — Minor 3rd — Perfect 4th — Perfect 5th — Minor 6th — Major 7th
Semitones: 0 — 2 — 3 — 5 — 7 — 8 — 11
E Harmonic Minor — Notes
E harmonic minor is one of the most natural keys on guitar, the low open E string provides a ready-made bass note, and the D♯ leading tone (fret 4 on the B string, or fret 11 on the E string) creates a powerful pull back to the root.
Harmonic Minor vs. Natural Minor
| Degree | Natural Minor | Harmonic Minor | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Root | A | A | — |
| 2 | B | B | — |
| ♭3 | C | C | — |
| 4 | D | D | — |
| 5 | E | E | — |
| ♭6 | F | F | — |
| 7th | G (♭7) | G♯ (♮7) | Raised ½ step ★ |
The Augmented Second
The interval from F (♭6) to G♯ (natural 7) spans three semitones, the same distance as a minor third. Yet because these notes occupy adjacent scale degrees (6th and 7th), it is called an augmented second. Scales normally move by whole steps (2 semitones) or half steps (1 semitone) between adjacent degrees; three semitones in one step is unusual and immediately noticeable to the ear.
This interval is what makes the scale sound exotic, Middle Eastern, or "neoclassical." It appears in flamenco, klezmer, Arabic maqam, and the harmonic minor passages in classical Western music.
Common Genres
| Genre | How Harmonic Minor Is Used |
|---|---|
| Classical | Every Western minor-key composition from Bach through Brahms — the V7 → i cadence requires it |
| Neoclassical Metal | Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert — fast runs and arpeggios with the characteristic augmented second |
| Flamenco | The Phrygian Dominant scale (mode 5 of harmonic minor) is the basis of flamenco harmony |
| Middle Eastern | Arabic maqam Hijaz, Turkish makam systems — the augmented second is a defining feature of these traditions |
| Film Scores | Villain themes, tension cues, and scenes set in ancient or exotic locations frequently draw on harmonic minor |
The V7 Chord — Why Harmonic Minor Exists
In traditional harmony, the V7 chord (dominant 7th) creates strong tension that resolves to the I chord. In A minor, the V chord would ideally be E7 (E–G♯–B–D). The G♯ is the major 3rd of E7, and it is the natural 7th of harmonic minor. Natural minor, with its G♮, would produce an Em7, a minor V chord that lacks the same gravitational pull. Raising that G to G♯ fixes the harmony.
The Harmonic Minor Cadence
Am → E7 → Am (in A harmonic minor). The G♯ in E7 is the raised 7th of harmonic minor, and it creates the leading-tone tension that drives the resolution.
Diatonic Chords of Harmonic Minor
The chords built from A harmonic minor, note the augmented III chord and the major V, both unique to harmonic minor:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord in A Harm. Minor | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | i | A minor | Minor — tonic |
| 2nd | ii° | B diminished | Diminished |
| 3rd | III+ | C augmented | Augmented ← unique to harmonic minor |
| 4th | iv | D minor | Minor |
| 5th | V | E major | Major ← the reason harmonic minor exists |
| 6th | ♭VI | F major | Major |
| 7th | vii° | G♯ diminished | Diminished |
The major V chord
Practice Tips
Mastering Harmonic Minor
- Learn natural minor first: Harmonic minor is one note different. Knowing natural minor makes the comparison immediate and the raised 7th obvious.
- Isolate the augmented second: Practice the ♭6 → 7 → root (e.g. F → G♯ → A) fragment repeatedly, this three-note sequence is the characteristic sound.
- Use arpeggios: The diminished 7th arpeggio built on the 7th degree (G♯dim7 in A) — G♯ B D F — is a classic neoclassical device and fits perfectly over a V7 chord.
- Listen to Yngwie: "Black Star", "Far Beyond the Sun", and "Rising Force" are study pieces for harmonic minor guitar phrasing.
Common Mistakes
- Using harmonic minor everywhere: The augmented second sounds exotic deliberately, it is not a general-purpose minor scale. Use natural minor for most minor playing and harmonic minor specifically when you want the V7 resolution or the exotic colour.
- Treating the augmented second as a mistake: The F → G♯ skip feels awkward at first. It is an intentional sound, not a fingering error. Practise it slowly until the interval becomes familiar and controllable.
- Skipping natural minor: Harmonic minor is a modification of natural minor. Without solid natural minor knowledge, the raised 7th has no context. Learn natural minor first.
- Confusing it with melodic minor: Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th (1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7), removing the augmented second. If you do not hear that exotic interval gap, you are playing melodic minor.