The F Harmonic Minor Scale Near the Nut
This F harmonic minor scale reads F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db and E. The E natural is the raised 7th: one fret below the root, it creates a tension that natural minor, with its Eb, does not.
The root is on the 1st fret of the low E string, so the lowest box is right at the nut, and it returns on the 8th fret of the A string. The chord on the 5th degree is a major C, which is how the scale gets its pull. Try the two notes per string patterns to learn the layout.
Play the F harmonic minor scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the F harmonic minor scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | Root | 0 |
| G | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| Ab | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| Bb | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| C | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| Db | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| E | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
F harmonic minor scale notes:
How the harmonic minor scale is built:
The harmonic minor scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-W-H-W+H-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is the parent scale of its own modal family.
It is also known as Aeolian Maj 7.
F Harmonic Minor Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the F harmonic minor scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the harmonic minor scale, starting from a different degree.
The harmonic minor scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
