STRINGSCALES

B♭ harmonic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

D string: Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

G string: A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

B string: C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

High E string: F, Gb, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

Pick a root note

Pick a scale

Bb harmonic minor

The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th of natural minor, creating an augmented 2nd gap between the flat 6th and the leading tone. That gap is its signature: dramatic, vaguely Eastern, and instantly recognizable in classical themes, neoclassical shred and surf rock. Harmonically it exists so a minor key can have a real dominant chord, so try it over the V chord resolving to a minor i.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

B♭

i

B♭m
C

ii°

Cdim
D♭

bIII+

D♭aug
E♭

iv

E♭m
F

V

Fmaj
G♭

bVI

G♭maj
A

vii°

Adim

Characteristic note: A (natural 7), the raised seventh that pulls strongly back to the root.

Same notes, different mode

Bb harmonic minor 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.

C locrian 6Db major augmentedEb dorian #4F phrygian dominantGb lydian #9A ultralocrian

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

tip
  • The augmented 2nd between the flat 6th (Gb) and the leading tone (A) is the signature: place it deliberately instead of avoiding it.
  • Use Bb harmonic minor over the V7 chord in a minor key, resolving to the i; that is the scale's original job.
  • For neoclassical lines, run the scale in triplets ending on the 5th (F) or root, Malmsteen style.
  • Alternate natural and harmonic minor over a static Bb minor vamp: raise the 7th only when heading home to the root.

How to play B♭ harmonic minor on guitar

Just one open string survives: A, the leading tone. Let it ring under a phrase and it leans straight into the Bb root, so leading-tone pull is available without fretting a single note. F major serves as the true dominant chord, which means full V-to-i motion in a four-flat key. Barres sit at fret 1 with the A-shape and fret 6 with the E-shape, and positions shift at fret 10.

homeall scalesaboutfaqpricingmicrotonalterms & conditionsprivacy policycookie policy© 2026 StringScales. All rights reserved.