fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASS GUITAR

B♭ Harmonic Minor

Natural minor with a raised 7th, restoring the leading-tone pull to the tonic. The augmented 2nd between ♭6 and ♮7 gives it its characteristic exotic edge.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title B♭ Harmonic Minor Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: BEAD
35791215BEADCD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CD♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭CE♭FG♭AB♭CD♭E♭F
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Alternate arrangements
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the B♭ Harmonic Minor scale?

The B♭ Harmonic Minor scale uses the notes B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Harmonic Minor scale formula?

The Harmonic Minor scale follows the interval pattern W H W W H W+H H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on B♭ to get the B♭ Harmonic Minor scale.

What chords work over B♭ Harmonic Minor?

Harmonic minor's diatonic chords include i minor, ii°, ♭III+ augmented, iv minor, V major (with the leading tone), ♭VI major, vii° diminished. V→i is the strong cadence.

How do I finger B♭ Harmonic Minor on Bass Guitar?

On bass, scales follow the same position-pattern logic as guitar but with two-notes-per-string most often. Walking-bass-line construction draws on chord-tone-arpeggiation through the scale; see /walking-bass for the standalone surface (once it ships).

When would I use the Harmonic Minor scale?

Natural minor with a raised 7th, restoring the leading-tone pull to the tonic. The augmented 2nd between ♭6 and ♮7 gives it its characteristic exotic edge.