Notes in the E Harmonic Minor scale
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Tonic |
| 2 | F♯ | Supertonic |
| ♭3 | G | Mediant |
| 4 | A | Subdominant |
| 5 | B | Dominant |
| ♭6 | C | Submediant |
| 7 | D♯ | Leading tone |
Each note uses a different letter name, so the spelling follows the scale rather than the keyboard: E F♯ G A B C D♯.
E 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 E Harmonic Minor scale
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives these chords:
| Degree | Triad | 7th chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Em | Em(maj7) |
| ii° | F♯° | F♯ø7 |
| III+ | G+ | G7♯5 |
| iv | Am | Am7 |
| V | B | B7 |
| VI | C | Cmaj7 |
| vii° | D♯° | D♯°7 |
Chord names link to guitar chord shapes where we have them.
Related scales
- Natural minor: E Natural Minor
How to practise the E 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 E Harmonic Minor scale?
The notes of the E Harmonic Minor scale are E F♯ G A B C D♯.
What is the formula for the E 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 E Harmonic Minor scale?
Built from the scale in triads: Em, F♯°, G+, Am, B, C, D♯°.
More E scales
E Major, E Natural Minor, E Melodic Minor, E Dorian, E Phrygian, E Lydian, E Mixolydian, E Locrian, E Major Pentatonic, E Minor Pentatonic, E Blues, E Lydian Dominant, E Altered, E Whole Tone, E Dorian ♭2, E Lydian Augmented, E Mixolydian ♭6, E Locrian ♯2, E Phrygian Dominant, E Hungarian Minor, E Double Harmonic, E Diminished (W–H), E Diminished (H–W), E Bebop Dominant, E 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.