About the C sharp Harmonic Major scale
C sharp Harmonic Major is used for jazz reharmonization, film music and pop that wants a bittersweet turn. Think of it as a major scale with a borrowed flat sixth, bright but with a shadow.
Its notes are C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A, and B♯. The formula is W W H W H 1½ H.
Also called Sarasangi and Nat Bhairav.
A is an open guitar string that sits inside this scale, ready to drone under a riff. On guitar, the deepest C♯ within reach is the 4th fret of the A string. Capo the first fret to play C♯ Harmonic Major with C-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.
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.
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.
Chords in the key of C sharp Harmonic Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
I C sharp
ii° D sharp diminished
iii E sharp minor
iv F sharp minor
V G sharp
VI+ A augmented
vii° B sharp diminished
Seventh chords in C sharp Harmonic Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
I C sharp major seven
ii° D sharp minor seven flat five
iii E sharp minor seven
iv F sharp minor major seven
V G sharp seven
VI+ A major seven sharp five
vii° B sharp diminished seven
Progressions in C sharp Harmonic Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | C#C♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | D#D♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | E#E♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | F#F♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G#G♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | AA | Minor 6th |
| 7 | B#B♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W H 1½ H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-1-3-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 ♭6 7 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Major in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.