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Scales

C♯ harmonic minor scale

The C♯ harmonic minor scale notes: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B♯. Natural minor with a raised 7th (the leading tone). The gap between the 6th and 7th notes, an augmented second, gives it its exotic sound.

Notes and steps

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯4G♯5A♭6B♯7

Steps: W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H · W = whole step, H = half step

C♯ harmonic minor scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

C♯ harmonic minor scale on the guitar fretboardEF♯G♯AB♯C♯D♯EAB♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯AD♯EF♯G♯AB♯C♯G♯AB♯C♯D♯EF♯B♯C♯D♯EF♯G♯AEF♯G♯AB♯C♯D♯E357912

C♯ harmonic minor scale on piano

C♯ harmonic minor scale on the piano keyboardB♯EAB♯EAC♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯

Chords in this scale

iC♯mii°D♯dimD♯m7b5III+EaugivF♯mF♯m7VG♯G♯7VIAAmaj7vii°B♯dimB♯dim7

Other scales from C♯

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯ harmonic minor scale?

C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B♯. Step formula: W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (C♯). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash