Harmonic minor · E · Piano
The E Harmonic minor scale is E F♯ G A B C D♯ — formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, step pattern W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H. Use it over Em(maj7): it is the scale for minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play runs the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes. “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | F♯ | major 2nd (2 semitones) | H |
| ♭3 | G | minor 3rd (3 semitones) | W |
| 4 | A | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | H |
| ♭6 | C | minor 6th (8 semitones) | W+H |
| 7 | D♯ | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Em(maj7) (E – G – B – D♯). Use it for: minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound.
Common questions
E F♯ G A B C D♯. As scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7. It has 7 notes.
E Harmonic minor fits Em(maj7) and, more generally, minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound.
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W H W W H W+H H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play E F♯ G A B C D♯ E ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Harmonic minor pages: Harmonic minor hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from E