Notes in the D Harmonic Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Tonic |
| 2 | E | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | F | Mediant |
| 4 | G | Subdominant |
| 5 | A | Dominant |
| ♭6 | B♭ | Submediant |
| 7 | C♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: D E F G A B♭ C♯.
D 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 D Harmonic Minor scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Dm | Dm(maj7) |
| ii° | E° | Eø7 |
| III+ | F+ | F7♯5 |
| iv | Gm | Gm7 |
| V | A | A7 |
| VI | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
| vii° | C♯° | C♯°7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Natural minor: D Natural Minor
How to practise the D 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 D Harmonic Minor scale?
The notes of the D Harmonic Minor scale are D E F G A B♭ C♯.
What is the formula for the D 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 D Harmonic Minor scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Dm, E°, F+, Gm, A, B♭, C♯°.
More D scales
D Major, D Natural Minor, D Melodic Minor, D Dorian, D Phrygian, D Lydian, D Mixolydian, D Locrian, D Major Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic, D Blues, D Lydian Dominant, D Altered, D Whole Tone, D Dorian ♭2, D Lydian Augmented, D Mixolydian ♭6, D Locrian ♯2, D Phrygian Dominant, D Hungarian Minor, D Double Harmonic, D Diminished (W–H), D Diminished (H–W), D Bebop Dominant, D 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.