Colour key
R234p567Each colour is a scale degree, counted from the key. A ♭ or ♯ note keeps its degree's colour: ♭3 is still amber.
A♭ Harmonic minor
Raised 7th, leaving an augmented 2nd between ♭6 and 7. Classical drama with a Middle-Eastern tinge.
Where you hear it: The V7 – i cadence in minor keys.
Step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W+H – H
- Compared with A♭ major: ♭3 C → C♭, ♭6 F → F♭
- Compared with A♭ natural minor: ♯7 G♭ → G
A♭ Harmonic minor on the guitar
Pick a position below to outline it on the neck.
in the pentatonic r ♭3 4 5 7: playedother notes of Harmonic minor: not playedPlay runs up the position from its lowest note and back down; Sample melody plays a short tune using only its notes. Tap a position's name to see it on the neck.
Modes with the same notes as A♭ Harmonic minor
Every chord in A♭ Harmonic minor
- A♭m(maj7)1/4mediumfret 11
- B♭m7♭51/14easyfret 1· shell
- C♭maj7♯51/9easyfret 7· shell
- D♭m71/23easyfret 4· shell
- E♭71/17easyfret 8· shell
- F♭maj71/17easyfret 12· shell
- Gdim71/4easyfret 5
Each chord stacks every other note of the scale (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th). Tap a row to hear it.
Iconic progressions in A♭ Harmonic minor
A few well-known chord loops that bring out this scale’s sound. Play one through, or tap a chord to hear it.
i – iv – V
Harmonic minor’s gift is the major V. Its 3rd is the raised 7th, the leading tone, which pulls up to the root: the strongest cadence in minor.
ii° – V – i
The minor ii–V–i. The half-diminished ii and the dominant V share most of their notes and move by half steps into the tonic.
i – ♭VI – V
i – ♭VI – V. The bass falls from ♭6 to 5, a half step, and the major V then pulls home. A baroque lament.
i – vii° – i
The diminished 7th on the raised 7th degree. It is symmetrical, so its notes can be heard as several chords, and it resolves up by a half step to i.
Sus and extension chords from each chord
From A♭m you can go through the 2nd of the scale to sus2 and 9 chords, through the 4th to sus4 and 11, and so on. All seven chords of A♭ Harmonic minor.
Hover or focus a small bubble for what it is, click to keep the note open.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
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Closest shape: leaves out a colour note.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.
Hover a bubble to see it here; click to hear it and keep it.