C# Harmonic Minor Scale

Natural minor with a raised 7th. Yields the exotic gap between b6 and 7.

Labels

Root KeyC C#D D#E F F#G G#A A#B

Full neck(1 / 6)

Tap any note on the fretboard to hear it. Root notes are highlighted in brand blue and marked R in interval mode.

Root

C#

Formula

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

Notes

C# D# E F# G# A C

Difficulty

Intermediate

Common Genres

NeoclassicalMetalFlamenco

Famous Guitarists Who Use It

Yngwie Malmsteen · Randy Rhoads · Ritchie Blackmore

Signature Licks & Ideas

Sweep arpeggiate the diminished 7th chord on the leading tone.

How to Practice

Play the scale one octave, ascending and descending, on a single string first.
Then play it across the strings in position — index finger anchored on the root fret.
Loop it slowly with a metronome (start at 60 bpm) before pushing tempo.
Improvise over a backing track in the same key — target the root note on beat 1.

Try This Scale in Another Key

C Harmonic Minor C# Harmonic Minor D Harmonic Minor D# Harmonic Minor E Harmonic Minor F Harmonic Minor F# Harmonic Minor G Harmonic Minor G# Harmonic Minor A Harmonic Minor A# Harmonic Minor B Harmonic Minor

Related Scales in C#

C# Major C# Natural Minor C# Pentatonic Major C# Pentatonic Minor C# Blues C# Melodic Minor C# Dorian C# Mixolydian

Practice Essentials

Editor-picked gear that makes practice easier. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Boss DB-30 Dr. Beat

Compact, loud enough for practice — polyrhythm support.

Korg TM-60 Tuner-Metronome

Combo device that hangs off a music stand.

Soundbrenner Pulse

Wearable vibrating metronome — feel the click.

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