C♯ Harmonic Minor Scale (C#)
The C# harmonic minor scale contains C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B#. It is C# natural minor with the 7th raised from B to B#. It keeps the key signature of C# minor (4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#), and the B# is written as an accidental.
| Note | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B# | C# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
C# harmonic minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to E and A. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to F# and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C#. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
C# harmonic minor vs C# natural minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B |
| Harmonic | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B# |
Only the 7th changes. B# sits a half step below C#, so it pulls up to the tonic, which B does not. It also leaves a gap of three semitones between A and B#, an augmented 2nd, and that gap is the sound people recognise in this scale.
What C# harmonic minor is used for
Harmonic minor is what makes a minor key cadence. The raised 7th turns the chord on the 5th degree from minor into major, G# (G# B# D#), and that chord resolves firmly to C#m. It also gives the diminished B#dim (B# D# F#) on the 7th degree. Most minor-key classical harmony borrows these chords, even when the melody stays in natural minor.
Chords that change from natural minor
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C# | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | root | 0 |
| D# | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| E | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| F# | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| G# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| A | b6 | minor 6th | 8 |
| B# | 7 | major 7th | 11 |
Step pattern
The harmonic minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
C# minor has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#, and harmonic minor uses the same key signature with one accidental, on the raised 7th: B#. See the key of C# minor for the rest of its chords.
Chords in C# harmonic minor
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these triads.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | C#m | C# E G# |
| 2 | ii° | D#dim | D# F# A |
| 3 | III+ | Eaug | E G# B# |
| 4 | iv | F#m | F# A C# |
| 5 | V | G# | G# B# D# |
| 6 | VI | A | A C# E |
| 7 | vii° | B#dim | B# D# F# |
More scales on C#
Harmonic Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C# harmonic minor scale?
The C# harmonic minor scale contains C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B#, then returns to C# an octave higher.
What is the difference between C# harmonic minor and C# natural minor?
Only the 7th note. C# natural minor has B; C# harmonic minor raises it to B#, a half step below the tonic.
What key signature does C# harmonic minor use?
The key signature of C# minor: 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#. The raised 7th, B#, is written as an accidental.
What is the fingering for the C# harmonic minor scale on piano?
Going up from C# to C#, the right hand plays 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
What is the step pattern of the harmonic minor scale?
It follows the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.