Also written Nahawand or Kirwani
C♯ harmonic minor runs C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B♯. Box 1 places the root on string 4, fret 6 for a four-string grip.
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.
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.
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 6, keeping the hand in frets 0–4 for quick access to the leading tone.
C♯ harmonic minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 4, 12 notes across 4 strings, from B♯ on the C string at fret 0 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.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 2 | G♯, A |
| 3 (C) | 0, 1, 3, 4 | B♯, C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (E) | 0, 2, 4 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (A) | 0, 3, 4 | A, B♯, C♯ |
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.
| 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♯ |
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.
| 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♯ |
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.
| 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♯ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
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.
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.
C♯ harmonic minor has four sharps in its key signature. The B♯ is an accidental raised from the natural minor scale.