C# Harmonic Minor Scale on Ukulele: Notes

How it is built

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯4G♯5A♭6B♯7

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7

Chords these notes build

C♯1C♯ Minor C♯ 5th C♯ Suspended 2nd C♯ Suspended 4th C♯ Minor Major 7th C♯ Minor Add 9
D♯2E♭ Minor 7th Flat 5th E♭ Diminished E♭ Diminished 7th
E♭3E Augmented E Augmented Major 7th
F♯4F♯ Minor F♯ 5th F♯ Suspended 2nd F♯ Minor 7th F♯ Minor 7th Flat 5th F♯ Minor 6th F♯ Minor Add 9 F♯ Diminished F♯ Diminished 7th
G♯5A♭ Major A♭ 5th A♭ Suspended 4th A♭ 7th A♭ 7th Sharp 5 A♭ 7th Suspended 4th A♭ Augmented
A♭6A Major A Minor A 5th A Major 7th A Minor Major 7th A 6th A Minor 6th A Diminished A Diminished 7th A Diminished Major 7th
B♯7C Diminished C Diminished 7th C Augmented

How do you play the C♯ harmonic minor scale on ukulele?

C♯ harmonic minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 9 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
3 (C)	1, 3, 4	C♯, D♯, E
2 (E)	2, 4	F♯, G♯
1 (A)	3, 4	B♯, C♯

Box 2 · frets 3–6

C♯ harmonic minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 10 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the C string at fret 3 up to D♯ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	5, 6	B♯, C♯
3 (C)	3, 4, 6	D♯, E, F♯
2 (E)	4, 5	G♯, A
1 (A)	3, 4, 6	B♯, C♯, D♯

Box 3 · frets 6–9

C♯ harmonic minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 11 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the C string at fret 6 up to F♯ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	6, 8, 9	C♯, D♯, E
3 (C)	6, 8, 9	F♯, G♯, A
2 (E)	8, 9	B♯, C♯
1 (A)	6, 7, 9	D♯, E, F♯

Box 4 · frets 8–11

C♯ harmonic minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 10 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the C string at fret 8 up to G♯ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	8, 9, 11	D♯, E, F♯
3 (C)	8, 9	G♯, A
2 (E)	8, 9, 11	B♯, C♯, D♯
1 (A)	9, 11	F♯, G♯

Why it sounds like that

C♯ harmonic minor is C♯ natural minor with B raised to B♯. The raised seventh creates a leading tone and a three-semitone step from A to B♯. Compare C♯ natural minor to hear the difference. The scale contains a tritone between D♯ and A.

When to use it

C♯ harmonic minor fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. Use it over minor progressions in C♯, especially when the V chord is G♯ major. The B♯ adds a classical or neoclassical flavour to rock and metal lines.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 6, keeping the hand in frets 1–4 for quick access to the leading tone.

Common questions

What notes are in C♯ harmonic minor?

C♯ harmonic minor contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, and B♯. The B♯ is the raised seventh degree, which distinguishes it from C♯ natural minor. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Which chords fit C♯ harmonic minor?

C♯ harmonic minor works over C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. The B♯ also supports G♯ major, the dominant chord in the key of C♯ minor.

What is the key signature of C♯ harmonic minor?

C♯ harmonic minor has four sharps in its key signature. The B♯ is an accidental raised from the natural minor scale.