STRINGSCALES

A harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G#, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

A string: A, B, C#, D, E, F, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12

D string: D, E, F, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10

B string: B, C#, D, E, F, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E, F, G#, A, B, C#, D, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12

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A harmonic major

The harmonic major scale is a major scale with a flat 6th: bright below, shadowed above, with harmonic minor's augmented 2nd gap relocated between the 6th and 7th. It lets a major key borrow the minor iv chord without leaving the scale, a favorite bittersweet cadence from Schubert to the Beatles. Its modes include the lydian diminished scale.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

Amaj
B

ii°

Bdim
C♯

iii

C♯m
D

iv

Dm
E

V

Emaj
F

bVI+

Faug
G♯

vii°

G♯dim

Same notes, different mode

A harmonic major uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

D lydian diminished

harmonic major in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Play A major, then flatten only the 6th (F): that single change is harmonic major, brightness with one shadowed degree.
  • Its classic use is the minor iv chord in a major key: over IV minor in A, this scale is the exact fit.
  • Lean on the bVI (F) to V half step at cadences, the borrowed-from-minor sigh inside a major key.
  • The augmented 2nd between bVI (F) and VII gives melodies an exotic lift right before the leading tone resolves to A.

How to play A harmonic major on guitar

Open A string is the root, and low E, D, B and high E are all in the scale, so five open strings can ring while you play. Fretted roots come at fret 5 on both E strings and fret 2 on the G, which means an E-shape barre at 5 overlaps your open-position work. EM is the V, Faug the bVI+. Move the same fingering up 5 semitones and it becomes D lydian diminished, so one shape does double duty.

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