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Guitar scales · Harmonic minor

B harmonic minor scale on guitar

The B scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and 7.

Notes and pattern

The B harmonic minor scale

with a raised 7th, giving minor keys a strong major V chord. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3 and 1 . The gap of 3 frets is what gives it its sound.

B is B minor with its 7th raised a : A♯ instead of A. See that scale.

  1. B1
  2. C♯2
  3. D♭3
  4. E4
  5. F♯5
  6. G♭6
  7. A♯7
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBEF♯GA♯C♯DEF♯GA♯C♯DEF♯GA♯DEF♯GA♯C♯DEGA♯C♯DEF♯GA♯C♯DEF♯GA♯C♯DEF♯GA♯C♯DEF♯G
  • B, the root
  • Other scale notes

Chords

Chords from the B harmonic minor scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

B harmonic minor, in short

What notes are in the B harmonic minor scale?
The B scale has seven notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and 7.
What chords go with the B harmonic minor scale?
The chords built on B harmonic minor are Bm, C♯°, D+, Em, F♯, G and A♯°.
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