C Harmonic Minor Scale
Notes in the C Harmonic Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | G# | 415.305 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | 493.883 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | D# |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D# | F |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | G# |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G# | B |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | C minor | minor |
| 2 | D | D diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | D# | D# augmented | augmented |
| 4 | F | F minor | minor |
| 5 | G | G | major |
| ♭6 | G# | G# | major |
| 7 | B | B diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
No sharps or flats — C Harmonic Minor Scale uses the same key signature as C major.
C Harmonic Minor Scale in Practice
The C Harmonic Minor Scale uses the key signature of no sharps or flats. C major is the simplest key signature with no sharps or flats. It is the starting point for music theory and the most widely studied key in Western music. On guitar, C positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th degree of the natural minor scale, creating a leading tone and a characteristic augmented second interval between degrees 6 and 7.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: C Harmonic Minor Scale Positions
The C key offers open-string resonance (no sharps or flats) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like C are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.
Piano: C Harmonic Minor Scale
C major is the foundational key for piano study — all white keys, no black keys in the major scale. Every piano method book begins here. The Harmonic Minor Scale in C remains the most-studied scale pattern for establishing keyboard geography and finger positioning.