Scale
A harmonic minor scale
The A harmonic minor scale has 7 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G♯.
- Notes
- A · B · C · D · E · F · G♯
- Step pattern
- W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H
W = whole step (two keys), H = half step (the very next key).
Play it yourself
Play the scale going up: start on A and tap each note in order.
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G♯
The harmonic minor scale is natural minor with a raised 7th. That one note creates a strong pull back to the root and the exotic-sounding jump of three half steps between the 6th and 7th notes.
Chords in A harmonic minor
Build a chord on each note of the scale using only notes from the scale, and you get these seven. The Roman numeral shows the step it is built on: upper case for major, lower case for minor.
- i · Am
- ii° · Bdim
- III+ · Caug
- iv · Dm
- V · E
- VI · F
- vii° · G♯dim