STRINGSCALES

F harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

A string: A, Bb, C, Db, E, F, G, A at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

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

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

B string: C, Db, E, F, G, A, Bb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

High E string: E, F, G, A, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12

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F 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:

F

I

Fmaj
G

ii°

Gdim
A

iii

Am
B♭

iv

B♭m
C

V

Cmaj
D♭

bVI+

D♭aug
E

vii°

Edim

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

Bb lydian diminished

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

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

How to play F harmonic major on guitar

Root sits at fret 1 on both E strings, which puts the E-shape barre right by the nut and the A-shape at 8. Capo fret 1 makes it E fingerings. Open low E, A and G belong to the scale as a major seventh, major third and major second, so they work as passing notes more than as a drone. CM is the V, Dbaug the bVI+, which means the dominant still resolves while the augmented triad stays available.

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