Harmonic minor · E · Piano
The E Harmonic minor scale is E F♯ G A B C D♯ — formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, step pattern W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H. Use it over Em(maj7): it is the scale for minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | F♯ | major 2nd (2 semitones) | H |
| ♭3 | G | minor 3rd (3 semitones) | W |
| 4 | A | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | H |
| ♭6 | C | minor 6th (8 semitones) | W+H |
| 7 | D♯ | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Em(maj7) (E – G – B – D♯). Use it for: minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound.
Common questions
E F♯ G A B C D♯. As scale degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7. It has 7 notes.
E Harmonic minor fits Em(maj7) and, more generally, minor keys where the V7 has a ♭9 — play it over the whole minor ii–V–i for a classic sound.
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W H W W H W+H H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play E F♯ G A B C D♯ E ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Harmonic minor pages: Harmonic minor hub · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from E