Natural Minor: 1-2-♭3-4-5-♭6-♭7
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1
C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C
The Harmonic Minor scale is derived by raising the ♭7 of the Natural Minor scale one half-step.
Harmonic Minor: 1-2-♭3-4-5-♭6-7
Example: C Harmonic Minor: C-D-E♭-F-G-A♭-B
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 1
C D E♭ F G A♭ B C
Fourth Pattern
Order of fourths:
4-7-♭3-♭6-2-5-1
Fourth pattern:
Aug4 → Dim4 → P4 → Aug4 → P4 → P4
Across the fretboard:
• 4 → 7 = Augmented 4ᵗʰ (up one string, up one fret)
• 7 → ♭3 = Diminished 4ᵗʰ (up one string, down one fret)
• ♭6 → 2 = Augmented 4ᵗʰ (up one string, up one fret)
Harmonic Minor Modes
aug4 
dim4 P4 aug4 P4 P4
4 7 ♭3 ♭6 2 5 1 Aeolian Nat.7
Tonic Chord
The tonic chord is a Minor-Major Seventh.
Formula:
1-♭3-5-7
Example:
CmMaj7 = C-E♭-G-B
Min maj7 Min7♭5 Maj7#5 Min7 Dom7 Maj7 Dim7
Harmonic Minor Chord Scale: 1-♭3-5-7-9-11-♭13
Phrygian Dominant
The fifth mode of Harmonic Minor is Phrygian Dominant (Mixolydian ♭9 ♭13).
Formula:
1-♭2-3-4-5-♭6-♭7
Example: G Phrygian Dominant
G-A♭-B-C-D-E♭-F
Tonic Chord
Dominant Seventh
Formula:
1-3-5-♭7
Example:
G7 = G-B-D-F
Chord Scale
1-3-5-♭7-♭9-11-♭13
Relationship to Harmonic Minor
Phrygian Dominant:
1-4-♭7-3-♭6-♭2-5
Harmonic Minor:
4-7-♭3-♭6-2-5-1
Corresponding fifths:
1-5 • 4-1 • ♭7-4 • 3-7 • ♭6-♭3 • ♭2-♭6 • 5-2
| 1 | ♭2 | 2 | ♭3 | 3 | 4 | ♭5 | 5 | ♭6 | 6 | ♭7 | 7 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | A♭ | B | C | D | E♭ | F | G |
| Phrygian Dominant | 1 | 4 | ♭7 | 3 | ♭6 (♭13) | ♭2 (♭9) | 5 |
| Harmonic Minor | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | ♭3 | ♭6 | 2 |