What notes are in the b harmonic minor scale?
1 Answer
#"B C"^♯ "D E F"^♯ "G A"^♯ "B"# if going up in pitch (left to right)
#"B D"^♭ "D E G"^♭ "G B"^♭ "B"# if going down in pitch (right to left)
Before we define a harmonic minor scale, let us define our notation using a major scale.
For a D major scale, we can write it as
#"D E F"^♯ "G A B C"^♯ "D"#
In pure numbers, it would be
#"1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8"# where the distance from
#3# to#4# and#7# to#8# is a half step.
That allows us to use relative intervals to indicate new scales.
Recall that a B natural minor scale is the relative minor to D major (the Aeolian mode), and is said to be a minor third (3 semitones) below D major.
Let's therefore proceed to write this B natural minor scale by shifting leftwards 3 semitones, but keeping the same key signature (
Ultimately, we end up constructing the same scale as a B major scale except modified with a flatted
#"1 2 3"^♭ "4 5 6"^♭# #7^♭# #8#
Finally, a harmonic minor scale relative to a natural minor scale has the
#"1 2 3"^♭ "4 5 6"^♭# #bb(7)# #8#
Convert this back to letter notation to get:
#"B C"^♯ "D E F"^♯ "G A"^♯ "B"#
On a piano, it would look like this: