About the D Harmonic Minor scale
D 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 D, E, F, G, A, B♭, and C♯. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.
Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.
The black keys B♭ and C♯ belong to D Harmonic Minor. This mode lines up five white keys back to back.
Chords in the key of D Harmonic Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
D minor over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E diminished over G (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F augmented over A (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G minor over B flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A over C sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B flat over D (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C sharp diminished over E (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in D Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
D minor major seven
E minor seven flat five
F major seven sharp five
G minor seven
A seven
B flat major seven
C sharp diminished seven
Progressions in D Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | DD | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | EE | Major 2nd |
| 3 | FF | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | GG | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | AA | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | BbB♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | C#C♯ | 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 | D | E | F | G | A | B flat | C sharp | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practicing it
In the right hand, the thumb comes under on G. Going up, the left hand crosses over after its thumb plays A. The hands are mirror images here, so a contrary-motion octave out from D takes matching fingers in both. The black keys B♭ and C♯ fall to the long fingers, with the fourth finger anchoring on C♯, which leaves the thumb on white keys throughout.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
C Harmonic Minor scaleD flat 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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