About the C Harmonic Minor scale
C 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 C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.
Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.
C Harmonic Minor draws two black keys from the piano, E♭ and A♭.
Chords in the key of C Harmonic Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
C minor over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D diminished over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat augmented over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F minor over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A flat over C (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B diminished over D (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in C Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
C minor major seven
D minor seven flat five
E flat major seven sharp five
F minor seven
G seven
A flat major seven
B diminished seven
Progressions in C Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | CC | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DD | Major 2nd |
| 3 | EbE♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | FF | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | GG | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | AbA♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | BB | 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 | C | D | E flat | F | G | A flat | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
Going up, the right hand passes its thumb under on F. The left thumb lands on G, and the hand crosses back over it from there. Because the two finger patterns are reverses of one another, the hands mirror each other note for note when they move outward from C. E♭ and A♭ are the black keys the long fingers take, which is what keeps the thumb clear of them.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
D 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 scaleB Harmonic Minor scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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