B Harmonic Major
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Harmonic Major Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Harmonic Major scale is a hybrid that combines the brightness of a major third with the sadness of a minor sixth. On Bass, it contains the notes B, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A#. It creates a unique bright-yet-sad tension that is common in film music to depict complex emotions that are not purely happy or sad. Commonly used in Film Scores, Classical, Jazz, Progressive. Notable players include Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Bela Bartok. Use over Maj7, Maj7b6 contexts. The b6 adds an unexpected shadow to otherwise bright major passages.
Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 7
Formula: W-W-H-W-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
A major scale with a b6 — the single alteration creates a 'happy but something is wrong' quality. Used in film to depict complex emotions that are neither purely happy nor sad.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Film Scores, Classical, Jazz, Progressive
Notable players: Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Bela Bartok
How to Use the B Harmonic Major Scale
Use over Maj7, Maj7b6 contexts. The b6 adds an unexpected shadow to otherwise bright major passages.
Origin & Background
A theoretical counterpart to the harmonic minor: where harmonic minor raises the 7th of minor, harmonic major lowers the 6th of major.
Related Scales
The B Harmonic Major scale contains 7 notes (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.