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.