F Harmonic Minor Guitar Scale

F Harmonic Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals

The F Harmonic Minor scale is a variation of the minor scale that introduces a strong leading tone. On Guitar, the notes are F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E. 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 F Harmonic Minor are FmMaj7, Gm7b5, Ab+maj7, Bbm7, C7, Dbmaj7, Eo7. 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: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E

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

FmMaj7 — Gm7♭5 — A♭+maj7 — B♭m7 — C7 — D♭maj7 — Eo7

How to Play F Harmonic Minor on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 1 on the 6th (low E) to find your F 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 8th fret on the A string.

The F Harmonic Minor scale contains 3 flats (Ab, Bb, Db). Its relative major is Ab major, which shares the same key signature.

Practice Routine

Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the F Harmonic Minor scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.

Try these progressions with the F Harmonic Minor scale: FmMaj7 - Bbm7 - C7 - FmMaj7 (I-IV-V-I) or FmMaj7 - Gm7b5 - Bbm7 - C7 for a more stepwise movement.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, practice the F Harmonic Minor scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.

The F Harmonic Minor scale contains 7 notes (F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for F Harmonic Minor

The F 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 F Harmonic Minor Further

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

Explore F Harmonic Minor in Other Tunings

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

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