C Harmonic Minor Scale on Guitar

The C Harmonic Minor Scale is a 7-note scale (classical, neoclassical metal) built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7. Its notes are C D E♭ F G A♭ B. Below you'll find the scale on the whole fretboard, the chords that belong to it and related scales — open it in the interactive fretboard for 3NPS, CAGED and pentatonic box patterns with playback.

Notes and intervals

DegreeNoteInterval
1Croot
2DMajor 2nd
♭3E♭Minor 3rd
4FPerfect 4th
5GPerfect 5th
♭6A♭Minor 6th
7BMajor 7th

Steps: W – H – W – W – H – 1½ – H (W = whole step, H = half step)

C Harmonic Minor Scale on the fretboard (15 frets)

C Harmonic Minor Scale – guitar fretboardEADGBEF4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2F4G5A♭♭6B7C1D2E♭♭3F4G5123456789101112131415

Standard tuning E A D G B E. Pink = root, purple = characteristic notes. 3NPS, CAGED and box patterns plus other tunings are in the interactive fretboard.

Chords in the scale

Other scales from C

Harmonic minor in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C Harmonic Minor Scale?
The C Harmonic Minor Scale has 7 notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
What intervals make up the C Harmonic Minor Scale?
Step pattern: W – H – W – W – H – 1½ – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Intervals from the root: 2 (Major 2nd), ♭3 (Minor 3rd), 4 (Perfect 4th), 5 (Perfect 5th), ♭6 (Minor 6th), 7 (Major 7th).
What chords are in the C Harmonic Minor Scale?
Triads: Cm, D°, E♭+, Fm, G, A♭, B°. Seventh chords: Cm(maj7), Dm7♭5, E♭maj7♯5, Fm7, G7, A♭maj7, B°7.