About the F Harmonic Minor Scale
The F harmonic minor scale is a 7-note scale. Natural minor with raised 7th, exotic sound. Its notes are F, G, G#, A#, C, C# and E, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
- Notes
- F – G – G# – A# – C – C# – E
- 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
- F
F Harmonic Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | G# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A# | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | C# | Minor 6th |
| 7 | E | Major 7th |
Where to play the F Harmonic Minor Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (F) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| E1 | 0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 |
| C3 | 0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 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 F Harmonic Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the F 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 F
- F Minor Pentatonic
- F Major Pentatonic
- F Mixolydian Pentatonic
- F Natural Minor
- F Major (Ionian)
- F Blues
- F Dorian
- F Mixolydian
- F Phrygian
- F Lydian
- F Locrian
- F Diminished (Half-Whole)
- F Diminished (Whole-Half)
- F Whole Tone
- F Augmented (Hexatonic)
- F Altered (Super Locrian)
- F Phrygian Dominant
- F Lydian Dominant
- F Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- F Bebop Dominant
- F Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- F Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)