The E Harmonic Major scale contains seven notes: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C, and D♯. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-H-W-H-A2-H.
E Harmonic Major Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | E | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | F♯ | M2 |
| 3 | Mediant | G♯ | M3 |
| 4 | Subdominant | A | P4 |
| 5 | Dominant | B | P5 |
| 6 | Submediant | C | m6 |
| 7 | Leading Tone | D♯ | M7 |
| 8 | Octave | E | — |
Key Signature
The notes of the E Harmonic Major Scale come from E Major, so it carries that key signature: 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
F♯C♯G♯D♯
Written as accidentals
C♮
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 E Harmonic Major Scale
These are the triads built on each degree of the E Harmonic Major Scale:
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | E Major | Major |
| 2 | ii° | F♯ Diminished | Diminished |
| 3 | iii | G♯ Minor | Minor |
| 4 | iv | A Minor | Minor |
| 5 | V | B Major | Major |
| 6 | VI+ | C Augmented | Augmented |
| 7 | vii° | D♯ Diminished | Diminished |
E Harmonic Major Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the E Harmonic Major Scale on piano?
The E Harmonic Major Scale uses the notes E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C – D♯ – E. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the E Harmonic Major Scale?
The E Harmonic Major Scale contains seven notes: E – F# – G# – A – B – C – D#. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does E Harmonic Major have?
The E 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: F♯, G♯, D♯.
What is the relative minor of E Harmonic Major?
The relative minor of E Harmonic Major is C# 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 E Harmonic Major?
The parallel minor of E Harmonic Major is E 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 E Harmonic Major Scale sound like?
The E 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.