Scale · Harmonic Minor

B♭ Harmonic Minor scale

The B♭ harmonic minor scale runs B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A — the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7, in steps of W H W W H W+H H (W a whole tone, H a semitone). The right hand plays it 4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4 and the left hand 2-1-3-2-1-4-3-2, over one octave.

Notes
B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A
Formula
1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7
Steps
W H W W H W+H H
Relative major
D♭ Major

On the keyboard

The B♭ Harmonic Minor scale on the piano keyboard: B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A41231234B♭CD♭E♭FG♭AB♭

The numbers on the keys are the right-hand fingering; 1 is the thumb.

Fingering, one octave

DegreeNoteRight handLeft hand
1B♭42
2C11
3D♭23
4E♭32
5F11
6G♭24
7A33
8B♭42

Ascending, right hand 4–1–2–3–1–2–3–4; left hand 2–1–3–2–1–4–3–2. Descending, each hand plays the same fingers in reverse.

The key of B♭ Minor

This scale is the key of B♭ Minor: its key signature, the seven chords built on these degrees, and the progressions that use them.

B♭ in the other forms

Harmonic Minor scales on every root

Part of the scale reference. See also the chords and the keys.