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Guitar scales · Harmonic minor

E harmonic minor scale on guitar

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

Notes and pattern

The E 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.

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

  1. E1
  2. F♯2
  3. G♭3
  4. A4
  5. B5
  6. C♭6
  7. D♯7
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯GABCD♯F♯GABCD♯F♯GABCD♯F♯GABCD♯GABCD♯F♯GABCD♯F♯GABCF♯GABCD♯F♯G
  • E, the root
  • Other scale notes

Chords

Chords from the E 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

E harmonic minor, in short

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