The C Harmonic Major scale contains seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A♭, and B. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-H-W-H-A2-H.
C Harmonic Major Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | D | M2 |
| 3 | Mediant | E | M3 |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | P4 |
| 5 | Dominant | G | P5 |
| 6 | Submediant | A♭ | m6 |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | M7 |
| 8 | Octave | C | — |
Key Signature
The notes of the C Harmonic Major Scale come from C Major, so it carries that key signature: no sharps or flats.
Accidentals
A♭
Diatonic Chords in the C Harmonic Major Scale
These are the triads built on each degree of the C Harmonic Major Scale:
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | C Major | Major |
| 2 | ii° | D Diminished | Diminished |
| 3 | iii | E Minor | Minor |
| 4 | iv | F Minor | Minor |
| 5 | V | G Major | Major |
| 6 | VI+ | A♭ Augmented | Augmented |
| 7 | vii° | B Diminished | Diminished |
C Harmonic Major Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the C Harmonic Major Scale on piano?
The C Harmonic Major Scale uses the notes C – D – E – F – G – A♭ – B – C. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the C Harmonic Major Scale?
The C Harmonic Major Scale contains seven notes: C – D – E – F – G – Ab – B. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does C Harmonic Major have?
The C 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: A♭.
What is the relative minor of C Harmonic Major?
The relative minor of C Harmonic Major is A 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 C Harmonic Major?
The parallel minor of C Harmonic Major is C 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 C Harmonic Major Scale sound like?
The C 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.