C Harmonic Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
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
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
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.
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.
The C Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
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)