STRINGSCALES

F♯ harmonic minor Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10

A string: A, B, C#, D, E#, F#, G#, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

D string: D, E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, B, C#, D, E#, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11

B string: B, C#, D, E#, F#, G#, A, B at frets 0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12

High E string: E#, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D at frets 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10

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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

F♯m
G♯

ii°

G♯dim
A

bIII+

Aaug
B

iv

Bm
C♯

V

C♯maj
D

bVI

Dmaj
E♯

vii°

E♯dim

Characteristic note: F (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 6A major augmentedB dorian #4C# phrygian dominantD lydian #9E# ultralocrian

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

tip
  • The augmented 2nd between the flat 6th (D) and the leading tone (F) 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

Open A, D, and B all land in key, covering the minor third, minor sixth, and fourth of F# harmonic minor. Roots stay low at fret 2 on both E strings, so the first box plays almost in open position. Two frets of capo remap the key to E harmonic minor shapes, which means the wide augmented-second stretch gets easier fingerings. C# major is the dominant chord.

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