STRINGSCALES

E harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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E 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:

E

I

Emaj
F♯

ii°

F♯dim
G♯

iii

G♯m
A

iv

Am
B

V

Bmaj
C

bVI+

Caug
D♯

vii°

D♯dim

Same notes, different mode

E 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.

A lydian diminished

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

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

How to play E harmonic major on guitar

Both E strings are open roots and the A and B strings add a fourth and a fifth, so an open drone under this key needs no fingers. First position ends at fret 4, which means you move early and the A-shape barre at 7 comes up fast. BM is the V and Am the iv. Same shape starting 5 semitones up reads as A lydian diminished, so one box covers two names.

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