Notes in the A Harmonic Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic |
| 2 | B | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | C | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Subdominant |
| 5 | E | Dominant |
| ♭6 | F | Submediant |
| 7 | G♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: A B C D E F G♯.
A Harmonic Minor scale formula
The pattern of steps from one note to the next is W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = a step of three semitones). Compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
Chords in the A Harmonic Minor scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Am | Am(maj7) |
| ii° | B° | Bø7 |
| III+ | C+ | C7♯5 |
| iv | Dm | Dm7 |
| V | E | E7 |
| VI | F | Fmaj7 |
| vii° | G♯° | G♯°7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Natural minor: A Natural Minor
How to practise the A Harmonic Minor scale
Learn it as natural minor with the 7th raised a half step. The leap from the ♭6 up to the 7 is a step and a half, which gives the scale its dramatic sound, so practise that gap slowly.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes in the A Harmonic Minor scale?
The notes of the A Harmonic Minor scale are A B C D E F G♯.
What is the formula for the A Harmonic Minor scale?
The pattern of whole and half steps is W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step). In scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
What chords are in the A Harmonic Minor scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Am, B°, C+, Dm, E, F, G♯°.
More A scales
A Major, A Natural Minor, A Melodic Minor, A Dorian, A Phrygian, A Lydian, A Mixolydian, A Locrian, A Major Pentatonic, A Minor Pentatonic, A Blues, A Lydian Dominant, A Altered, A Whole Tone, A Dorian ♭2, A Lydian Augmented, A Mixolydian ♭6, A Locrian ♯2, A Phrygian Dominant, A Hungarian Minor, A Double Harmonic, A Diminished (W–H), A Diminished (H–W), A Bebop Dominant, A Bebop Major
Explore the full scales library, find a scale from notes with the scale finder, or see every chord in every key in the chord chart.