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Guitar scales · Harmonic minor

D harmonic minor scale on guitar

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

Notes and pattern

The D 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.

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

  1. D1
  2. E2
  3. F♭3
  4. G4
  5. A5
  6. B♭♭6
  7. C♯7
EADGBE0135791215DDDDDDDDEFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭EFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭C♯EFGAB♭C♯EFG
  • D, the root
  • Other scale notes

Chords

Chords from the D 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

D harmonic minor, in short

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