STRINGSCALES

B harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D#, E, F#, G, A#, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11

G string: G, A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

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

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

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B 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:

B

I

Bmaj
C♯

ii°

C♯dim
D♯

iii

D♯m
E

iv

Em
F♯

V

F♯maj
G

bVI+

Gaug
A♯

vii°

A♯dim

Same notes, different mode

B 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.

E lydian diminished

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

tip
  • Play B major, then flatten only the 6th (G): 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 B, this scale is the exact fit.
  • Lean on the bVI (G) to V half step at cadences, the borrowed-from-minor sigh inside a major key.
  • The augmented 2nd between bVI (G) and VII gives melodies an exotic lift right before the leading tone resolves to B.

How to play B harmonic major on guitar

Root is the open B string, with both E strings a fourth away and open G also in the scale, so three drones are there for free. Capo fret 2 reads everything as A, which lets you play 4 sharps out of familiar shapes. Fretted roots wait until fret 7. F#M is the V and Gaug the bVI+, so a dominant and an augmented triad share the same key.

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