About the C#/Db Harmonic Minor Scale
The C#/Db harmonic minor scale is a 7-note scale. Natural minor with raised 7th, exotic sound. Its notes are C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A and C, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
- Notes
- C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – C
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
- Steps
- W H W W H W+H H (2–1–2–2–1–3–1 semitones)
- Root
- C#/Db
C#/Db Harmonic Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Root |
| 2 | D# | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | E | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | A | Minor 6th |
| 7 | C | Major 7th |
Where to play the C#/Db Harmonic Minor Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (C#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 |
| E1 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
| D2 | 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| C3 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 |
How to practice the harmonic minor scale
- Focus on the augmented 2nd interval
- Practice neoclassical sweep patterns
- Work on Yngwie-style sequences
- Use over minor progressions with V7
- Emphasize the leading tone resolution
Scales with the same notes as C#/Db Harmonic Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the C#/Db harmonic minor scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Harmonic Minor scale in other keys
Other scales in C#/Db
- C#/Db Minor Pentatonic
- C#/Db Major Pentatonic
- C#/Db Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C#/Db Natural Minor
- C#/Db Major (Ionian)
- C#/Db Blues
- C#/Db Dorian
- C#/Db Mixolydian
- C#/Db Phrygian
- C#/Db Lydian
- C#/Db Locrian
- C#/Db Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C#/Db Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C#/Db Whole Tone
- C#/Db Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C#/Db Altered (Super Locrian)
- C#/Db Phrygian Dominant
- C#/Db Lydian Dominant
- C#/Db Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C#/Db Bebop Dominant
- C#/Db Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C#/Db Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)