STRINGSCALES

D harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

B string: C#, D, E, F#, G, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

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

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D 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:

D

I

Dmaj
E

ii°

Edim
F♯

iii

F♯m
G

iv

Gm
A

V

Amaj
B♭

bVI+

B♭aug
C♯

vii°

C♯dim

Same notes, different mode

D 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.

G lydian diminished

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

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

How to play D harmonic major on guitar

Open D string is the root, with the A and G strings a fifth and a fourth from it, so a full drone sits under everything you play in first position. Both E strings add the major second, which means five open strings are usable and the box only shifts at fret 14. AM gives the key a working dominant. Bbaug covers the bVI+, so the augmented triad is already inside the shape.

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