C♯ 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.
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
What notes are in the C♯ Harmonic Minor scale?
The C♯ Harmonic Minor scale uses the notes C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B♯ (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 C♯ to get the C♯ Harmonic Minor scale.
What chords work over C♯ 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 C♯ Harmonic Minor 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 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.