F harmonic minor scale

3 flats: A♭ B♭ D♭ · pattern W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H

F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D♭ – E

FGCEFA♭B♭D♭
Step patternWHWWHW+HH

Chords in F harmonic minor

iFm
ii°Gdim
III+A♭aug
ivB♭m
VC
VID♭
vii°Edim

Scale degrees

DegreeNoteNameHalf steps from F
1FTonic0
2GSupertonic2
3A♭Mediant3
4B♭Subdominant5
5CDominant7
6D♭Submediant8
7ELeading tone11

About this scale

Harmonic minor is natural minor with a raised 7th, E, a half step below the tonic. That leading tone turns the v chord into a major V, giving minor keys their strong cadence — and creates the distinctive step-and-a-half between D♭ and E.

Seventh chords in F harmonic minor scale

i(maj7) Fm(maj7)iiø7 Gm7♭5III+7 A♭maj7♯5iv7 B♭m7V7 C7VImaj7 D♭maj7vii°7 Edim7

Other F scales

Harmonic minor scale in other keys

Questions

What are the notes of the F harmonic minor scale?

F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E, and back to F.

How many sharps or flats are in F harmonic minor scale?

3: A♭, B♭, D♭.

What is the step pattern of the harmonic minor scale?

W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on F to get this scale.