About the C sharp Harmonic Minor scale
C sharp 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.
An unfretted guitar already sounds E and A from this mode. The lowest C♯ on a standard-tuned guitar sits at the 4th fret of the A string. A capo at the first fret lets a guitarist play C♯ Harmonic Minor 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 Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i C sharp minor
ii° D sharp diminished
III+ E augmented
iv F sharp minor
V G sharp
VI A
vii° B sharp diminished
Seventh chords in C sharp Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i C sharp minor major seven
ii° D sharp minor seven flat five
III+ E major seven sharp five
iv F sharp minor seven
V G sharp seven
VI A major seven
vii° B sharp diminished seven
Progressions in C sharp Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | C#C♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | D#D♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | EE | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F#F♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G#G♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | AA | Minor 6th |
| 7 | B#B♯ | 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 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.