STRINGSCALES

F♯ harmonic major Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

D string: D, E#, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A#, B, C#, D, E#, F# at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

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

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

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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

F♯maj
G♯

ii°

G♯dim
A♯

iii

A♯m
B

iv

Bm
C♯

V

C♯maj
D

bVI+

Daug
E♯

vii°

E♯dim

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.

B lydian diminished

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

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

How to play F♯ harmonic major on guitar

Capo fret 2 and E shapes cover it, which means 5 sharps cost you nothing in fingering. Open D and B strings are in the scale, B a perfect fourth above the tonic. Roots sit at fret 2 on both E strings, so the E-shape barre there is the home position and the A-shape waits at 9. Bm takes the iv and Daug the bVI+.

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