Chord Colors

F Harmonic Minor scale

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About the F Harmonic Minor scale

F 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 F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.

Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.

Learn more about the F Harmonic Minor scale

E and G are open guitar strings that sit inside F Harmonic Minor, ready to drone under a riff. On guitar, the deepest F within reach is the 1st fret of the low E string. The mode plays in open position, a whole octave of the scale falling within the first three frets.

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.

E shapeopen
D shapefr 2
C shapefr 5
A shapefr 7
G 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 2fr 1
Shape 3fr 3
Shape 4fr 4
Shape 5fr 6
Shape 6fr 8
Shape 7fr 9
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 1open
Position 2fr 1
Position 3fr 3
Position 4fr 4
Position 5fr 6
Position 6fr 8
Position 7fr 9

Chords in the key of F Harmonic Minor

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

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

Seventh chords in F Harmonic Minor

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

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

Progressions in F Harmonic Minor

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

Notes and intervals

1FFRoot
2GGMajor 2nd
3AbA♭Minor 3rd
4BbB♭Perfect 4th
5CCPerfect 5th
6DbD♭Minor 6th
7EEMajor 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.

Embed this scale

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F Harmonic Minor scale on guitar shown as colored note dots
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