C# Harmonic Minor Scale on Piano

The C# Harmonic Minor scale sounds tense and dramatic. It runs C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B# and is written with five sharps.

It shares its key signature with E major, its relative major.

Interval Circle

WHWWHW+HHB#7C#1DD#2Eb3FF#4GG#5Ab6A#B

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

Natural minor with the 7th raised back up, restoring the leading tone so dominant harmony works in a minor key. The augmented second it opens between the 6th and 7th degrees is the interval that gives the scale its distinctive edge.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

3-4-1-2-3-1-2-3

Left Hand (ascending)

3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3

Why this fingering

4 black keys (C#, D#, F#, G#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto E and A; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in C# Harmonic Minor

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
C#C#4Root (1)33
D#D#4Major 2nd (2)42
EE4Minor 3rd (b3)11
F#F#4Perfect 4th (4)24
G#G#4Perfect 5th (5)33
AA4Minor 6th (b6)12
B#B#4Major 7th (7)21
C#C#5Octave (8)33

Other Harmonic Minor Scales

C Harmonic Minor
C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – B
D Harmonic Minor
D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C#
Eb Harmonic Minor
Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – D
E Harmonic Minor
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D#
F Harmonic Minor
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – E
F# Harmonic Minor
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E#
G Harmonic Minor
G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F#
G# Harmonic Minor
G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E – F##
A Harmonic Minor
A – B – C – D – E – F – G#
Bb Harmonic Minor
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – A
B Harmonic Minor
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A#

Other C# Scales

C# Natural Minor
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B
C# Melodic Minor
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B#
C# Minor Pentatonic
C# – E – F# – G# – B
C# Blues
C# – E – F# – G – G# – B
C# Dorian
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B