The Harmonic Minor Scale | Guitar Diagrams and Charts

The harmonic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode.

It is characterized by the raised seventh scale degree, which creates a distinctive interval between the sixth and seventh degrees of the scale.

How Is Built The Harmonic Minor Scale?

The harmonic minor scale is one of the most essential scales that every guitarist should know. It contains seven notes, thus giving the following interval formula : 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - 7. It is built the same as the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) but with the seventh degree raised by one semitone. 

Difference Between Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor?

The melodic minor scale is built the same as the harmonic minor scale but has a major sixth (6) instead of a minor sixth (b6) giving the formula 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7. They both have a major seventh.

Comparison With Aeolian Mode

The main difference with the Aeolian mode (natural minor scale) is the seventh that is minor (b7) for the Aeolian mode whereas it is major (7) for the harmonic minor.

Harmonic Minor Scale Application

Theoretically the harmonic minor scale should be played over minMaj7 chords, but it can also be used over minor chords like m6, m7, m9, m11, m6/9. 

Playing the harmonic melodic scale over a minor 7 chord creates tension because of the major seventh. To attenuate this tension you need to resolve you lick on a proper note.

One Octave Shapes

Here are four diagrams to play the harmonic minor scale on your guitar. Each shapes contains tones within the space of one octave.

The most easy way to learn the scale is to play it starting from the tonic (1 in the graphic). Be sure to practice them in twelve keys.

Two Octave Shapes

These two shapes show the harmonic scale within the space of two octaves. 

Be sure to practice them slowly, the speed will come later.  You can also practice these shapes in quarter notes, eighth notes or even sixteenth notes.

3 Notes Per String Shapes

Here below in the diagram, the G harmonic minor scale is presented in 7 different shapes covering the whole neck. Each shape contains 3 notes per string and corresponds to a mode of the harmonic scale.

The first position starts with the tonic (1), the second with the second (2), the third with the b3 and on and on. Keep in mind that all these shapes are movable.

Harmonization Of The Harmonic Minor Scale

Here are the chords built from each degree of the harmonic minor scale. Triad chords are made of three notes stacked in thirds and tetrad chords made of four notes stacked in thirds too.

For example the first chord, C minor(maj7), is built by stacking C, Eb, G and B respectively root, minor third, perfect fifth and major seventh.

Once the harmonic minor scale is harmonized we get a major seventh chord (sixth degree), one augmented chord (III), two minor chords (degrees I & IV), one minor seventh flat fifth chord on the second degree (II), one dominant seventh chord (V) and one diminished seventh chord on degree VII.

Augmented chords are necessarily majors and diminished chords are minor.

Chord Formulas

Quadrad chords in the key of C minor.

Drop 2 and Drop 3 Chords

The five diagrams below show how looks drop 2 and drop 3 chords from the harmonic minor scale harmonized in thirds. Each chord type is represented by a color code.

• Green for the chord of the first degree (minMaj7).
• Brown for the chord starting on the second degree (m7b5).
• Blue for the chord starting from the third degree (Maj7#5).
• Red for the chord of the fourth degree (min7).
• Grey for the chord starting on the fifth degree (dom7). 
• Orange for the chord starting from the sixth degree (Maj7).
• Purple for the chord starting on the seventh degree (dim7).

Arpeggios Of The Harmonic Minor Scale

When playing one by one each of the chords from the harmonic minor scale we get seven arpeggios:

1. MinMaj7 : 1 b3 5 7
2. m7b5 (half-diminished) : 1 b3 b5 b7
3. maj7#5 : 1 3 #5 7
4. min7 : 1 b3 5 b7
5. Dom 7 : 1 3 5 b7
6. Maj7 : 1 3 5 7
7. Dim7 : 1 b3 b5 bb7

These arpeggios are very useful to improvise over jazz chord changes. Learning them will expand your theoretical knowledge and your guitar technique.

The transcription below show how to play the seven arpeggios from the C harmonic minor scale. As you will hear, each arpeggio is played ascending and descending. Be sure to play them in all twelve keys all over the guitar neck, trying to vary the positions and fingerings. 

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