B Harmonic Minor Scale on Guitar: Notes, Shapes and Positions

The B harmonic minor scale is B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, a natural minor with the seventh raised to A♯. Start with the root on the low E string at the 7th fret, then learn the five positions below, from the Am shape at the 2nd fret up the neck.

Keys

B Harmonic Minor Scale: 5 Positions

11Cm shape
2Am shape
4Gm shape
7Em shape
9Dm shape

CAGED Chords — Bm

11C shape
2A shape
4G shape
7E shape
9D shape

Triads — Bm

Root position

11C shape
2A shape
4G shape
7E shape

Notes and formula

Degree12♭345♭67
NoteBC♯DEF♯GA♯

B minor has 2 sharps (C♯ and F♯). The harmonic minor keeps that key signature and adds one accidental, the raised seventh, A♯, written into the music each time it appears.

The B harmonic minor scale across the whole neck

Every B harmonic minor scale note from the nut to the 15th fret: E on the low E string, fret 0; F sharp on the low E string, fret 2; G on the low E string, fret 3; A sharp on the low E string, fret 6; B (root) on the low E string, fret 7; C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; D on the low E string, fret 10; E on the low E string, fret 12; F sharp on the low E string, fret 14; G on the low E string, fret 15; A sharp on the A string, fret 1; B (root) on the A string, fret 2; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; D on the A string, fret 5; E on the A string, fret 7; F sharp on the A string, fret 9; G on the A string, fret 10; A sharp on the A string, fret 13; B (root) on the A string, fret 14; D on the D string, fret 0; E on the D string, fret 2; F sharp on the D string, fret 4; G on the D string, fret 5; A sharp on the D string, fret 8; B (root) on the D string, fret 9; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; D on the D string, fret 12; E on the D string, fret 14; G on the G string, fret 0; A sharp on the G string, fret 3; B (root) on the G string, fret 4; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; D on the G string, fret 7; E on the G string, fret 9; F sharp on the G string, fret 11; G on the G string, fret 12; A sharp on the G string, fret 15; B (root) on the B string, fret 0; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; D on the B string, fret 3; E on the B string, fret 5; F sharp on the B string, fret 7; G on the B string, fret 8; A sharp on the B string, fret 11; B (root) on the B string, fret 12; C sharp on the B string, fret 14; D on the B string, fret 15; E on the high e string, fret 0; F sharp on the high e string, fret 2; G on the high e string, fret 3; A sharp on the high e string, fret 6; B (root) on the high e string, fret 7; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9; D on the high e string, fret 10; E on the high e string, fret 12; F sharp on the high e string, fret 14; G on the high e string, fret 15.

B Harmonic Minor scale, frets 0–15. Roots (B) in green.

The root, B, sits on the low E string at fret 7 and on the A string at fret 2. Those are the anchors every position is built around.

Five of the six open strings belong to B harmonic minor (E, D, G, B and high e), so they can ring against fretted notes; the other one will clash.

Position by position: Am shape from the 2nd fret; Gm shape from the 4th fret; Em shape from the 7th fret; Dm shape from the 9th fret; Cm shape from the 11th fret.

Chords in B harmonic minor

The raised A♯ turns the fifth chord major: F♯ (F♯, A♯ and C♯), or F♯7 with the E added, which pulls strongly back to Bm.

The full set of chords is i Bm, ii° C♯°, III+ D+, iv Em, V F♯, VI G and vii° A♯°.

Played from its fifth note, F♯, the same notes give F♯ Phrygian dominant, the sound of a lot of flamenco and metal over a F♯ chord.

To learn it, play the Am shape from the 2nd fret slowly, saying each note name, then link it to the next position up. Land on B at the end of each run, and you'll hear the scale settle on its root.

B Harmonic Minor scale FAQs

Which notes make up the B harmonic minor scale?

B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A♯. The formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, with the raised seventh, A♯.

What is the V chord in B harmonic minor?

F♯, a major chord (F♯, A♯ and C♯). The raised seventh, A♯, is its third.

Where do I play the B harmonic minor scale on guitar?

Start from the root on the low E string at the 7th fret. The Am shape from the 2nd fret is the lowest of the five positions, and the other four continue up the neck to the 12th fret and beyond.

Learn more

The harmonic minor scale on guitar explains how the scale is built and how to use it, and the guitar scale lessons set out what to learn next. The scale library has every scale in every key.