F Harmonic Minor Scale
Notes in the F Harmonic Minor Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor Submediant | Db | 277.183 Hz |
| 7 | Leading Tone | E | 329.628 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | Ab |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Bb | C |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | Db |
| 6 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | Db | E |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F minor | minor |
| 2 | G | G diminished | diminished |
| ♭3 | Ab | Ab augmented | augmented |
| 4 | Bb | Bb minor | minor |
| 5 | C | C | major |
| ♭6 | Db | Db | major |
| 7 | E | E diminished | diminished |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses Bb.
F Harmonic Minor Scale in Practice
The F Harmonic Minor Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (Bb). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Harmonic Minor Scale
F is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.