Scale
E harmonic minor scale
The E harmonic minor scale has 7 notes: E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D♯.
- Notes
- E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D♯
- 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 E and tap each note in order.
- E
- F♯
- G
- A
- B
- C
- D♯
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 E 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 · Em
- ii° · F♯dim
- III+ · Gaug
- iv · Am
- V · B
- VI · C
- vii° · D♯dim