Harmonic Minor Scale

Music as a whole would be missing many of its greatest compositions if it weren't for the harmonic minor scale. 

This scale has been a go-to resource for countless composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach. And without going back so far in time, from a completely different musical angle, symphonic rock owes much of its sound to the harmonic minor scale.

That's why every new guitarist does well to learn what it is, how it's built, and what the harmonic minor scales are from Cm through Bm. 

That's exactly what we'll walk you through this time, so you can sharpen your knowledge and expand your toolkit when it comes time to play a solo. 

What is the harmonic minor scale?

The harmonic minor scale is characterized by raising the seventh degree on the way up. On the way down, however, that alteration is dropped. 

It's for this very reason that guitarists like Michael Romeo, Yngwie Malmsteen, among other rock heroes, have used it to give us some of the greatest solos in the history of the electric guitar. 

And while it's also an essential part of chamber music, the truth is that today this scale is more popular thanks to rock.

How the harmonic minor scale is built

To build this scale, we need to talk about the degrees and the intervals that should fall between them. 

So, using as our reference that the minor scale is built from the degrees: 

Tonic - major second - minor third - fourth - fifth - sixth - raised seventh - octave

This way, the distance between the notes is as follows: 

Whole step - half step - whole step - whole step - half step - whole step + half step - half step

Now, when it comes to the tip we want to leave you with, this scale should be practiced with the alteration both ascending and descending. That way, you'll get a more distinctive, more accented sound in your playing. 

The harmonic minor scales from Cm to Bm

From here on, we'll give you the harmonic minor scales in every natural key. 

• Cm: C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - B - C
• Dm: D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C# - D
• Em: E - F# - G - A - B - C - D# - E
• Fm: F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - E - F 
• Gm: G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F# - G 
• Am: A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A 
• Bm: B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A# - B

This way, you'll notice that each of these scales contains alterations that are important for telling them apart. 

Tips

For study purposes, here are some tips you should keep in mind to build a solid command of these scales.

• Use a metronome: always start slow, as slow as you can. For example, set the quarter note to 60 bpm and take it from there. 
• Clean playing: aim to pick the strings so that every note rings clearly, with no stray sounds creeping into the music. 
• Multiple positions on the fretboard: don't get stuck on a single position for playing the scales. Instead, try to build the harmonic scale in at least three different positions up and down the fretboard. As the saying goes, the secret to a lasting marriage is getting creative with positions. 

Now come on, you've got this, kick off your training with the harmonic minor scale so you can become a great guitarist.