A Harmonic Minor Scale
A–B–C–D–E–F–G#
The A Harmonic Minor scale has 7 notes: A–B–C–D–E–F–G#. Its character: dramatic, exotic, and classical — the minor sound with a strong leading tone pulling toward the root.
Raising the 7th of natural minor creates a half-step from 7 to 1 (the leading tone) and a striking augmented 2nd interval (3 semitones) between the ♭6 and 7. The result is the emotional pull of a major-key cadence over a minor tonality. You'll hear it most in metal, classical and rock.
A Harmonic Minor is A natural minor with the 7th raised a half-step (G#). That one change creates the exotic augmented-2nd leap between the ♭6 and 7 — practice that interval slowly, because it's the sound that makes this scale instantly recognizable over a E7-to-Am cadence.
A Harmonic Minor Scale on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the scale — blue dots are the root (A).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | B | C | D | E | F | G# |
Songs That Use the Harmonic Minor Sound
Ozzy Osbourne — “Mr. Crowley”
Randy Rhoads' iconic outro solo is a textbook harmonic minor lesson — the raised 7th over the i chord gives every phrase a neoclassical, almost baroque tension that resolves dramatically into the root.
Yngwie Malmsteen — “Black Star”
Built on F# harmonic minor. The sweep arpeggios and descending runs lean on the augmented 2nd between the ♭6 (D) and 7 (E#) for that unmistakable neoclassical-shred sound.
Dick Dale — “Misirlou”
The fast tremolo-picked melody outlines a harmonic-minor-derived tonality — the raised 7th and ♭6 give the surf classic its instantly recognizable Mediterranean, exotic flavor.
A Harmonic Minor Scale FAQ
What notes are in the A Harmonic Minor scale?
A Harmonic Minor contains 7 notes: A–B–C–D–E–F–G#. The interval formula is R–2–♭3–4–5–♭6–7.
What is the A Harmonic Minor scale used for?
Dramatic, exotic, and classical — the minor sound with a strong leading tone pulling toward the root. It's a core vocabulary scale in metal, classical and rock — used for riffs, solos, and melodies over minor-key progressions in A.
What is the difference between A natural minor and A harmonic minor?
The 7th degree. Natural minor has a ♭7; harmonic minor raises it to a major 7th (G#). The raised 7th creates a leading tone that pulls to the root and makes the V chord major — the classical-sounding cadence you can't get from natural minor.
How do I practice the A Harmonic Minor scale?
Pick one position, play it ascending and descending with a metronome until it's clean, then improvise over a backing track in A so your ear connects the shapes to the sound. OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Related Scales
Practice A Harmonic Minor with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run scales to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.