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Scale · 7 notes

B Harmonic Minor Scale

B Harmonic Minor is a 7-note scale with the notes B C♯ D E F♯ G A♯. It sounds minor with a raised 7th, giving a strong pull to the tonic and a dramatic, classical or Middle Eastern flavour.

DEGBC♯F♯A♯

Purple = B (the tonic) · green = other scale notes

On the fretboard

Every B harmonic minor note on the neck. Pick a pattern to see the compact fingering shape that fits under one hand.

EADGBe135791215EF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BDEF♯GA♯BC♯DEGA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯GA♯BC♯DEF♯G

Blue = B (the root) · green = other scale notes

Notes in the B Harmonic Minor scale

DegreeNoteName
1BTonic
2C♯Supertonic
♭3DMediant
4ESubdominant
5F♯Dominant
♭6GSubmediant
7A♯Leading tone

Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: B C♯ D E F♯ G A♯.

B 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 B Harmonic Minor scale

Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:

DegreeTriad7th chord
iBmBm(maj7)
ii°C♯°C♯ø7
III+D+D7♯5
ivEmEm7
VF♯F♯7
VIGGmaj7
vii°A♯°A♯°7

Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.

Related scales

How to practise the B 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 B Harmonic Minor scale?

The notes of the B Harmonic Minor scale are B C♯ D E F♯ G A♯.

What is the formula for the B 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 B Harmonic Minor scale?

Built from the scale in triads: Bm, C♯°, D+, Em, F♯, G, A♯°.

More B scales

B Major, B Natural Minor, B Melodic Minor, B Dorian, B Phrygian, B Lydian, B Mixolydian, B Locrian, B Major Pentatonic, B Minor Pentatonic, B Blues, B Lydian Dominant, B Altered, B Dorian ♭2, B Mixolydian ♭6, B Locrian ♯2, B Phrygian Dominant, B Hungarian Minor, B Double Harmonic, B Diminished (W–H), B Diminished (H–W), B Bebop Dominant, B 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.