About the B Harmonic Minor scale
B Harmonic Minor is used for classical minor keys, flamenco, metal and Middle Eastern melodies. Think of it as a minor scale with a dramatic raised seventh, the backbone of classical minor keys.
Its notes are B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, and A♯. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.
Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.
Three of the notes in B Harmonic Minor are black keys, C♯, F♯, and A♯.
Chords in the key of B Harmonic Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
B minor over D (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D augmented over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E minor over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A sharp diminished over C sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in B Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
B minor major seven
C sharp minor seven flat five
D major seven sharp five
E minor seven
F sharp seven
G major seven
A sharp diminished seven
Progressions in B Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | BB | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | C#C♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | DD | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | EE | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F#F♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | GG | Minor 6th |
| 7 | A#A♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H 1½ H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-3-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | B | C sharp | D | E | F sharp | G | A sharp | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
The right thumb tucks under to play E. The left hand crosses over its thumb on E. The hands share their crossing point, since both thumbs land on E. The long fingers cover the black keys C♯, F♯, and A♯, and the fourth finger anchors the shape on A♯, and the hand sits forward on the keyboard to keep them there.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
C Harmonic Minor scaleD flat Harmonic Minor scaleD Harmonic Minor scaleE flat Harmonic Minor scaleE Harmonic Minor scaleF Harmonic Minor scaleG flat Harmonic Minor scaleG Harmonic Minor scaleA flat Harmonic Minor scaleA Harmonic Minor scaleB flat Harmonic Minor scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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