C Harmonic Minor Guitar Scale

C Harmonic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals

The C Harmonic Minor scale is a variation of the minor scale that introduces a strong leading tone. On Guitar, the notes are C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B. It has a distinctive exotic or Middle Eastern flavor due to the wide gap between its upper notes, and is used to provide the harmonic tension necessary for classical minor-key resolutions. It is a staple in neo-classical metal and flamenco. The diatonic chords of C Harmonic Minor are CmMaj7, Dm7b5, Eb+maj7, Fm7, G7, Abmaj7, Bo7. Commonly used in Metal, Classical, Flamenco, Film Scores, Neoclassical. Notable players include Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Johann Sebastian Bach. Use over m(Maj7), m7, dim7 chords. Essential for creating V7 → i resolutions in minor keys. The raised 7th provides the leading tone that natural minor lacks.

Notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

Formula: W-H-W-W-H-WH-H

Number of notes: 7

Diatonic Chords

CmMaj7 — Dm7♭5 — E♭+maj7 — Fm7 — G7 — A♭maj7 — Bo7

Musical Character

The augmented 2nd interval between the b6 and natural 7 creates an exotic 'Middle Eastern' leap that is both the scale's signature sound and its main challenge for smooth phrasing.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Metal, Classical, Flamenco, Film Scores, Neoclassical

Notable players: Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Johann Sebastian Bach

How to Use the C Harmonic Minor Scale

Use over m(Maj7), m7, dim7 chords. Essential for creating V7 → i resolutions in minor keys. The raised 7th provides the leading tone that natural minor lacks.

Origin & Background

Developed in the Baroque era to provide a leading tone for minor-key cadences. The harmonic foundation of classical minor-key composition. The raised 7th produces an augmented 2nd gap between the b6 and natural 7, which imparts the scale's distinctive Turkish and Moorish coloring.

How to Play C Harmonic Minor on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 8 on the 6th (low E) to find your C root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.

The C Harmonic Minor scale contains 2 flats (Eb, Ab). Its relative major is Eb major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Begin by playing the C Harmonic Minor scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C-Eb, D-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.

Try these progressions with the C Harmonic Minor scale: CmMaj7 - Fm7 - G7 - CmMaj7 (I-IV-V-I) or CmMaj7 - Dm7b5 - Fm7 - G7 for a more stepwise movement. This scale is especially effective in metal contexts.

Guitar Tips

Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the C Harmonic Minor scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently. Aim for a dramatic quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

• C Minor
• C Phrygian dominant
• C Double harmonic major
• C Hungarian minor

The C Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each shape and pattern on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges. Practice ascending and descending from the root note to learn the sound of this scale.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Harmonic Minor

The C Harmonic Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.

Explore C Harmonic Minor Further

• Harmonize the C Harmonic Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
• Browse chord progressions
• C Harmonic Minor on Ukulele
• C Harmonic Minor on Bass
• C Harmonic Minor on Piano

Explore C Harmonic Minor in Other Tunings

• C Harmonic Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
• C Harmonic Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
• C Harmonic Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
• C Harmonic Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
• C Harmonic Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
• C Harmonic Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
• C Harmonic Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
• C Harmonic Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
• C Harmonic Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
• C Harmonic Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
• C Harmonic Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
• C Harmonic Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
• C Harmonic Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
• C Harmonic Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)

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