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.
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
F sharp minor over A (1st inversion)
ii° G sharp diminished
G sharp diminished over B (1st inversion)
III+ A augmented
A augmented over C sharp (1st inversion)
iv B minor
B minor over D (1st inversion)
V C sharp
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
VI D
D over F sharp (1st inversion)
vii° E sharp diminished
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
| 1 | F#F♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | G#G♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | AA | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | BB | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C#C♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | DD | Minor 6th |
| 7 | E#E♯ | 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 | F sharp | G sharp | A | B | C sharp | D | E sharp | F sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
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
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.