The harmonic minor scale on guitar
Natural minor with a raised 7th. The wide gap between the ♭6 and the 7 gives it a dramatic, classical or Middle-Eastern flavour.
A Harmonic Minor
A1B2C♭3D4E5F♭6G#7
Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 · Steps: W · H · W · W · H · W+H · H (W = whole step, H = half step) · 7 notes
Where it sits on the neck
Every A Harmonic Minor note from the open strings to the 12th fret, standard tuning. Gold dots are the root. Above the 12th fret the pattern repeats.
On a phone, swipe the diagram sideways to see the whole neck.
Songs that use it
- Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones). Listen for the raised 7th that gives it that tense pull.
In Fretdle
It's the daily board's scale on Saturdays. The scale's notes are hidden on the board: you only see the roots, so knowing this pattern is the whole game.