A♭ harmonic minor scale
MinorAeolian ♯7 · 7 notes · A♭ + B♭ + C♭ + D♭ + E♭ + F♭
A♭harmonic minor
KeyboardRight hand · 1 = thumb
Fingering guideOne octave · both hands
| Hand | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1thumb under | 2 | 3 | 1thumb under | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 44 over | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33 over |
Chords in the key
How to read a scale
Steps, degrees, fingers.
The step pattern
Every scale is a pattern of whole and half steps. A♭ harmonic minor goes W–H–W–W–H–W+H–H: the step and a half between F♭ and G gives it its colour.
The degrees
Number the notes from the root: 1 A♭, 2 B♭, ♭3 C♭, 4 D♭, 5 E♭, ♭6 F♭, 7 G. The degrees stay the same in every key, so a pattern learned in A♭ works in any other.
The fingering
Right hand: the thumb tucks under onto C♭, then the thumb tucks under onto F♭. Left hand: finger 4 crosses over onto D♭, then finger 3 crosses over onto A♭. Practise the crossings slowly; once they're smooth, raise the tempo.
All 216 scales
Every scale and mode on every root, each with its own page.
C
D♭
D
E♭
E
F
G♭
G
A♭
A
B♭
Practise it on a real keyboard.
Plug in a MIDI keyboard: the Melodio app shows every scale with its fingering and chords, and names what you play. Free, offline.
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