STRINGSCALES

F harmonic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

A string: Bb, C, Db, E, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

D string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12

B string: C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: E, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E at frets 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12

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F 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:

F

i

Fm
G

ii°

Gdim
A♭

bIII+

A♭aug
B♭

iv

B♭m
C

V

Cmaj
D♭

bVI

D♭maj
E

vii°

Edim

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

Same notes, different mode

F 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.

G locrian 6Ab major augmentedBb dorian #4C phrygian dominantDb lydian #9E ultralocrian

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

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

How to play F harmonic minor on guitar

Both open E strings double the leading tone of F harmonic minor, so open-string pull-offs land one fret below the root. Root F sits at fret 1 on each. Open G is the only other string in key, sitting on the second degree. C major takes the dominant role, which lets full V-to-i cadences work, and a capo at fret 1 converts everything to E harmonic minor fingering.

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