A Harmonic Major Scale
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Listen plays the scale. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.
A – B – C♯ – D – E – F – G♯ – A
Formula:W-W-H-W-H-A2-H
Intervals:P1-M2-M3-P4-P5-m6-M7
Practice A Harmonic Major Scale
Reading about it is step one — drilling it is what makes it automatic.
Introduction
The A Harmonic Major scale contains seven notes: A, B, C♯, D, E, F, and G♯. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-H-W-H-A2-H.
A Harmonic Major Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | B | M2 |
| 3 | Mediant | C♯ | M3 |
| 4 | Subdominant | D | P4 |
| 5 | Dominant | E | P5 |
| 6 | Submediant | F | m6 |
| 7 | Leading Tone | G♯ | M7 |
| 8 | Octave | A | — |
Key Signature
The notes of the A Harmonic Major Scale come from A Major, so it carries that key signature: 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).
F♯C♯G♯
Written as accidentals
F♮
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Diatonic Chords in the A Harmonic Major Scale
These are the triads built on each degree of the A Harmonic Major Scale:
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | A Major | Major |
| 2 | ii° | B Diminished | Diminished |
| 3 | iii | C♯ Minor | Minor |
| 4 | iv | D Minor | Minor |
| 5 | V | E Major | Major |
| 6 | VI+ | F Augmented | Augmented |
| 7 | vii° | G♯ Diminished | Diminished |
A Harmonic Major Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the A Harmonic Major Scale on piano?
The A Harmonic Major Scale uses the notes A – B – C♯ – D – E – F – G♯ – A. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the A Harmonic Major Scale?
The A Harmonic Major Scale contains seven notes: A – B – C# – D – E – F – G#. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does A Harmonic Major have?
The A Harmonic Major Scale doesn't correspond to a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed: C♯, G♯.
What is the relative minor of A Harmonic Major?
The relative minor of A Harmonic Major is F# Minor. Both scales share the same key signature and the same seven notes — the difference is which note feels like "home." That's why a song in C major and a song in A minor look identical on the staff but feel completely different.
What is the parallel minor of A Harmonic Major?
The parallel minor of A Harmonic Major is A Minor. "Parallel" means same root, opposite mode — the third, sixth, and seventh are all a half-step lower in the minor version. Modal interchange (borrowing chords from the parallel key) is one of the most useful tricks in pop and jazz writing.
What does the A Harmonic Major Scale sound like?
The A Harmonic Major Scale has a distinctive sound shaped by its specific interval pattern. Listen to the audio playback above to hear the character on every note.
Related Tools
Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.