Chord Colors

F♯ Harmonic Minor scale

About the F sharp Harmonic Minor scale

F 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 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

This mode draws three black keys from the piano, F, G, and C.

Chords in the key of F sharp Harmonic Minor

Expand a chord to see how to play it.

i F sharp minor
Position 2 of 3

F sharp minor over A (1st inversion)

ii° G sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

G sharp diminished over B (1st inversion)

III+ A augmented
Position 2 of 3

A augmented over C sharp (1st inversion)

iv B minor
Position 2 of 3

B minor over D (1st inversion)

V C sharp
Position 2 of 3

C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)

VI D
Position 2 of 3

D over F sharp (1st inversion)

vii° E sharp diminished
Position 2 of 3

E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)

Seventh chords in F sharp Harmonic Minor

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

i F sharp minor major seven

F sharp minor major seven

ii° G sharp minor seven flat five

G sharp minor seven flat five

III+ A major seven sharp five

A major seven sharp five

iv B minor seven

B minor seven

V C sharp seven

C sharp seven

VI D major seven

D major seven

vii° E sharp diminished seven

E sharp diminished seven

Progressions in F sharp Harmonic Minor

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

Notes and intervals

1F#F♯Root
2G#G♯Major 2nd
3AAMinor 3rd
4BBPerfect 4th
5C#C♯Perfect 5th
6DDMinor 6th
7E#E♯Major 7th
StepsW H W W H 1½ H
Semitones2-1-2-2-1-3-1
Degrees1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fingering

Standard fingering

Hand F sharpG sharpABC sharpDE sharpF sharp
Right hand34123123
Left hand43213214

Practicing it

The right hand changes position on A and D, where the thumb crosses under. B and E are the left hand's thumb notes. Every black key here, F, G, and C, sits under a long finger, with the fourth finger anchoring on G, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.

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.

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Gb Harmonic Minor scale on piano shown as colored note dots
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