A Harmonic Minor

A Harmonic Minor scale for guitar.
The A Harmonic Minor is a seven-note scale. Colored circles mark the tones in the diagram, the darker ones highlighting the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first note in the scale is on the 6th string, 5th fret.

A Harmonic Minor 2 octaves

A Harmonic Minor scale diagram

A Harmonic Minor full fretboard

A Harmonic Minor scale whole guitar neck diagram

A Harmonic Minor with note names

A Harmonic Minor scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (4th position) with fingerings

A Harmonic Minor scale shape 1 diagram

Shape 2 (6th position) with fingerings

A Harmonic Minor scale shape 2 diagram

Shape 3 (9th position) with fingerings

A Harmonic Minor scale shape 3 diagram

Shape 4 (11th position) with fingerings

A Harmonic Minor scale shape 4 diagram

Shape 5 (2nd position) with fingerings

A Harmonic Minor scale shape 5 diagram
Notes: A - B - C - D - E - F - G# Intervals: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1 Type: Septonic 

The scale displayed with its numeric formula, notes, intervals and scale degrees.

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 A Unison Tonic
2 B Major second Supertonic
b3 C Minor third Mediant
4 D Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 E Perfect fifth Dominant
b6 F Minor sixth Submediant
7 G# Major seventhSubtonic

The interval formula (2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
A-B M2
A-C m3
A-D P4
A-E P5
A-F m6
A-G# M7
Notes (descending) Interval
A-G# m2
A-F M3
A-E P4
A-D P5
A-C M6
A-B m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

The main chords that are related to this scale are the following:

Am X02210 AmM7 X02110
Bdim X2343X Bm7b5 X2323X
Caug X32110 CM7#5 X32100
Dm XX0231 Dm7 XX0211
E 022100 E7 020100
F XX3211 Fmaj7 XX3210
G#dim XX6797 G#dim7 XX6767

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the A Harmonic Minor scale.
The second and fourth columns include short notations for the chords in the first and third columns respectively. These are based on common ways to play the chord, but there are other alternatives. See more about this notation system on the FAQ page.

The A Harmonic Minor scale consists of seven notes. These can be described as intervals, as semi-notes or steps on the guitar fingerboard from the first note to the next octave. Written as semi-notes: 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1. Written as steps: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole and a half, half.
The A Harmonic Minor is one of three A Minor scales, the other two are A Natural Minor and A Melodic Minor.

This minor scale has an exotic sound caused by the whole and a half distance between the sixth and seventh degrees.
This large jump is the main feature to focus on in addition to the parallels with the other two minor scales.

Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

A Harmonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

A Harmonic Minor scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.