Chord Colors

B♭ Harmonic Minor scale

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About the B flat Harmonic Minor scale

B flat 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.

Learn more about the B♭ Harmonic Minor scale

A is an open guitar string that sits inside this mode, ready to drone under a riff. On guitar, the deepest B within reach is the 1st fret of the A string. A capo at the first fret brings B Harmonic Minor within reach of A-shape fingerings.

Positions

Playable shapes for this scale up the neck. Tap any note to hear it.

CAGED

Five shapes, each anchored to a chord form you already know, the pop and rock default that ties your scales to your chords. The outlined notes are that chord, so you can see the C, A, G, E, and D shapes inside the scale.

A shapeopen
G shapefr 3
E shapefr 5
D shapefr 7
C shapefr 10
3NPS

3NPS stands for 3 notes per string. It lays the scale out in seven even shapes for rock and metal lead, and favors speed because the picking pattern stays consistent across every string.

Shape 1fr 1
Shape 2fr 2
Shape 3fr 4
Shape 4fr 6
Shape 5fr 8
Shape 6fr 9
Shape 7fr 11
7-position system

7 four-fret boxes, one per scale degree, each a single hand position with almost no shifting. The jazz and classical way, from William Leavitt's Berklee method.

Position 1fr 1
Position 2fr 2
Position 3fr 5
Position 4fr 6
Position 5fr 8
Position 6fr 9
Position 7fr 11

Chords in the key of B flat Harmonic Minor

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i B flat minor
Position 1 of 4
ii° C diminished
Position 1 of 4
III+ D flat augmented
Position 1 of 4
iv E flat minor
Position 1 of 4
V F
Position 1 of 4
VI G flat
Position 1 of 4
vii° A diminished
Position 1 of 4

Seventh chords in B flat Harmonic Minor

The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.

i B flat minor major seven
Position 1 of 4
ii° C minor seven flat five
Position 1 of 4
III+ D flat major seven sharp five
Position 1 of 4
iv E flat minor seven
Position 1 of 4
V F seven
Position 1 of 4
VI G flat major seven
Position 1 of 4
vii° A diminished seven
Position 1 of 4

Progressions in B flat Harmonic Minor

Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.

Notes and intervals

1BbB♭Root
2CCMajor 2nd
3DbD♭Minor 3rd
4EbE♭Perfect 4th
5FFPerfect 5th
6GbG♭Minor 6th
7AAMajor 7th
StepsW H W W H 1½ H
Semitones2-1-2-2-1-3-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Related scales

Harmonic Minor in other keys

Modes

The same notes, starting on a different note.

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Bb Harmonic Minor scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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