STRINGSCALES

E♭ harmonic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

A string: Bb, Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

D string: D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

G string: Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

B string: Cb, D, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

High E string: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, D, Eb at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

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Eb 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:

E♭

i

E♭m
F

ii°

Fdim
G♭

bIII+

G♭aug
A♭

iv

A♭m
B♭

V

B♭maj
C♭

bVI

C♭maj
D

vii°

Ddim

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

Same notes, different mode

Eb 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.

F locrian 6Gb major augmentedAb dorian #4Bb phrygian dominantCb lydian #9D ultralocrian

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

tip
  • The augmented 2nd between the flat 6th (B) and the leading tone (D) is the signature: place it deliberately instead of avoiding it.
  • Use Eb 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 (Bb) or root, Malmsteen style.
  • Alternate natural and harmonic minor over a static Eb minor vamp: raise the 7th only when heading home to the root.

How to play E♭ harmonic minor on guitar

Open D works inside Eb harmonic minor as the leading tone, so an unfretted string can point straight at the root. Open B works too, spelled Cb, sitting a minor sixth above Eb. Every other note needs fretting, which means the practical move is a capo at fret 1, thinking in D harmonic minor shapes from there. Roots sit at fret 11, shifting at fret 15.

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