C# Harmonic Minor Cuatro Venezolano Scale
Cuatro Venezolano scale in Standard tuning — fretboard diagram
C# Harmonic Minor in Standard — Notes and Intervals
The C# Harmonic Minor scale is a variation of the minor scale that introduces a strong leading tone. On Cuatro Venezolano, the notes are C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, C. 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 C#mMaj7, D#m7b5, E+maj7, F#m7, G#7, Amaj7, Co7. 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#, E, F#, G#, A, C
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
Tuning: Standard (B-F#-D-A)
Diatonic Chords
C♯mMaj7 — D♯m7♭5 — E+maj7 — F♯m7 — G♯7 — Amaj7 — Co7