Guitar scale reference
D Harmonic Minor scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree of natural minor to create a strong leading tone and a dominant chord that resolves firmly to the tonic. The resulting augmented second gives the scale its unmistakable tension.
What gives the scale its sound
Focus on the distance between the flattened 6th and major 7th. The 7th wants to resolve upward to the root, while the minor 3rd keeps the tonic quality clearly minor.
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7
- Notes in D
- D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C♯
D Harmonic Minor across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------------9-10-12-13-12-10--9-------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------10-11----------------------11-10-------------------------------------| G|----------------------------9-10-12----------------------------------12-10--9----------------------------| D|---------------------11-12----------------------------------------------------12-11----------------------| A|------------10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10-------------| E|-9-10-12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12-10--9-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 11–15
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------12-13-15-13-12----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------11-14-15----------------15-14-11-------------------------------------| G|---------------------------12-14-15----------------------------------15-14-12----------------------------| D|---------------11-12-14-15----------------------------------------------------15-14-12-11----------------| A|---------12-13----------------------------------------------------------------------------13-12----------| E|12-13-15----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-13-12-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 13–17
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------13-15-17-15-13-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------14-15-17----------------17-15-14----------------------------------| G|---------------------------14-15----------------------------------15-14----------------------------| D|------------------14-15-17----------------------------------------------17-15-14-------------------| A|---------13-16-17----------------------------------------------------------------17-16-13----------| E|13-15-17----------------------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-13-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 16–20
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------------17-18-17-------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------17-18-20----------20-18-17----------------------------------| G|---------------------------18-19----------------------------19-18----------------------------| D|------------------17-19-20----------------------------------------20-19-17-------------------| A|------16-17-19-20----------------------------------------------------------20-19-17-16-------| E|17-18----------------------------------------------------------------------------------18-17-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 18–22
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------------------18-21-22-21-18----------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------18-20-22----------------22-20-18-------------------------------------| G|------------------------18-19-21-22----------------------------------22-21-19-18-------------------------| D|------------------19-20----------------------------------------------------------20-19-------------------| A|---------19-20-22----------------------------------------------------------------------22-20-19----------| E|18-21-22----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22-21-18-|
Practice drill
Loop 5–♭6–7–1 in every position before playing the full scale. Resolve the 7th to a root in the next CAGED shape so the sound, not just the fingering, guides the shift.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser