D Harmonic Major
Major with a lowered 6th — borrows the harmonic-minor flat-6 into a major context. Used over altered IV / iv6 progressions.
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
What notes are in the D Harmonic Major scale?
The D Harmonic Major scale uses the notes D, E, F♯, G, A, B♭, C♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What's the Harmonic Major scale formula?
The Harmonic Major scale follows the interval pattern W W H W H W+H H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on D to get the D Harmonic Major scale.
What chords work over D Harmonic Major?
Try chord pairings derived from the scale's third, fifth, and seventh degrees as roots — they share the most diatonic notes.
How do I finger D Harmonic Major on Piano?
On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.
When would I use the Harmonic Major scale?
Major with a lowered 6th — borrows the harmonic-minor flat-6 into a major context. Used over altered IV / iv6 progressions.