The Minor Scales – Harmonic Minor Scale

C) HARMONIC MINOR SCALE

The harmonic minor scale differs from the natural minor scale in that it has a raised 7th note. This gives it a kind of Eastern or Arabic sound. The step pattern is therefore:

1stto2nd= 1 tone(2 frets)
2ndto3rd= 1 semitone (1 fret)
3rdto4th= 1 tone (2 frets)
4thto5th= 1 tone (2 frets)
5thto6th= 1 semitone (1 fret)
6thto7th= 1 tone + 1 semitone(3 frets)
7thtooctave= 1 semitone (1 fret)
Intervals of the Harmonic Minor Scale

So, in the key of A, we get:

tonesemitonetonetonesemitone1+1/2tone(#7th)semitone
A^B^C^D^E^F^G#^A
Frets:2122131
Step Pattern for a Harmonic Minor Scale

On the guitar, we could play it on the G string (3rd string) like this:

Listen:

Since it is not entirely functional to play a scale on a single string, we can find the notes of this scale across all strings, as outlined below.

FINGERING FOR ROOT NOTE ON 5TH STRING:

This pattern can be used when the root note of the natural minor scale falls anywhere on the 5th string.

FINGERING FOR ROOT NOTE ON 6TH STRING:

This pattern can be used when the root note of the natural minor scale falls anywhere on the 6th string.