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

The C harmonic minor scale is C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B. Its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, a natural minor with the seventh raised to B. Start with the root on the low E string at the 8th fret, then learn the five positions below, from the Am shape at the 3rd fret up the neck.

Keys

C Harmonic Minor Scale: 5 Positions

12Cm shape
3Am shape
5Gm shape
8Em shape
10Dm shape

CAGED Chords — Cm

12Cm shape
3A shape
5G shape
8E shape
10D shape

Triads — Cm

Root position

12C shape
3A shape
5G shape
8E shape

Notes and formula

Degree12♭345♭67
NoteCDE♭FGA♭B

C minor has 3 flats (E♭ and A♭). The harmonic minor keeps that key signature and adds one accidental, the raised seventh, B, written into the music each time it appears.

The C harmonic minor scale across the whole neck

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

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

The root, C, sits on the low E string at fret 8 and on the A string at fret 3. Those are the anchors every position is built around.

Three of the six open strings belong to C harmonic minor (D, G and B), so they can ring against fretted notes; the others will clash.

Position by position: Am shape from the 3rd fret; Gm shape from the 5th fret; Em shape from the 8th fret; Dm shape from the 10th fret; Cm shape from the 12th fret. The Cm shape is shown at the 12th fret; it also works twelve frets lower, in open position.

Chords in C harmonic minor

The raised B turns the fifth chord major: G (G, B and D), or G7 with the F added, which pulls strongly back to Cm.

The full set of chords is i Cm, ii° D°, III+ E♭+, iv Fm, V G, VI A♭ and vii° B°.

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

To learn it, play the Am shape from the 3rd fret slowly, saying each note name, then link it to the next position up. Land on C at the end of each run, and you'll hear the scale settle on its root.

C Harmonic Minor scale FAQs

Which notes make up the C harmonic minor scale?

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

What is the V chord in C harmonic minor?

G, a major chord (G, B and D). The raised seventh, B, is its third.

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

Start from the root on the low E string at the 8th fret. The Am shape from the 3rd 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.