stringery

B harmonic minor

Minor with a raised 7th: classical, gypsy jazz and neoclassical metal. Diminished & augmented family

Exotic and dramatic.

Root position3 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the major 7th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. BRW
  2. C♯2H
  3. D♭3W
  4. E4W
  5. F♯5H
  6. G♭61½
  7. A♯7H

Raising the 7th leaves a wide gap after the flat 6th. That leap is the instantly recognisable 'exotic' sound.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckB harmonic minor

12345EADGBE3579121545♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R♭345♭67R2♭34♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭6
12345EADGBE3579121545♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R♭345♭67R2♭34♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭67R2♭345♭6

Position 3 is outlined, frets 6 to 10. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The B harmonic minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Bmi
  2. C♯dimii°
  3. DaugIII+
  4. Emiv
  5. F♯V
  6. GVI
  7. A♯dimvii°

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • B minor

    Natural minor: the same scale with a flat 7th.