A♯ Harmonic Major scale

The A♯ Harmonic Major scale is a 7-note harmonic major scale built on the root A♯. Its notes are A♯, B♯, C𝄪, D♯, E♯, F♯ and G𝄪. Major scale with a flat sixth - bright tonic with a darker undertone, popular in modern jazz. This page covers the formula, fingerings, diatonic chords and common progressions that make A♯ Harmonic Major a great tool for improvising and composing.

Short answer

Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal. Built on the root A♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.

Notes
A♯ · B♯ · C𝄪 · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G𝄪
Formula
1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M
Step pattern
W W H W H W+H H
Tonic
A♯

A♯ Harmonic Major on the piano

Show:
Piano keyboard highlighting the A♯ Harmonic Major scale notesB♯C𝄪E♯G𝄪B♯C𝄪E♯G𝄪D♯F♯A♯D♯F♯A♯A♯ Harmonic Major - A♯ · B♯ · C𝄪 · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G𝄪

A♯ Harmonic Major on the guitar

Show:
Position:
Guitar fretboard highlighting the A♯ Harmonic Major scale noteseBGDAEE♯F♯G𝄪A♯B♯C𝄪D♯B♯C𝄪D♯E♯F♯G𝄪A♯G𝄪A♯B♯C𝄪D♯E♯F♯C𝄪D♯E♯F♯G𝄪A♯B♯C𝄪G𝄪A♯B♯C𝄪D♯E♯F♯G𝄪E♯F♯G𝄪A♯B♯C𝄪D♯A♯ Harmonic Major - fr 012

A♯ Harmonic Major on the staff

Hear the A♯ Harmonic Major scale

A♯ Harmonic Major
A♯ · B♯ · C𝄪 · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G𝄪
A♯B♯C𝄪D♯E♯F♯G𝄪

Improvisation drone

Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.

A♯ Harmonic Major
A♯

Notes of the A♯ Harmonic Major scale

DegreeIntervalSemitonesNoteHear
11P0A♯(A#)
22M2B♯(B#)
33M4C𝄪(C##)
44P5D♯(D#)
55P7E♯(E#)
66m8F♯(F#)
77M11G𝄪(G##)

Diatonic chords of A♯ Harmonic Major

These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.

How to use the A♯ Harmonic Major scale

The diatonic chords of A♯ Harmonic Major are: I = A♯, ii° = B♯°, iii = C𝄪m, iv = D♯m, V = E♯, VI+ = F♯+, vii° = G𝄪°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♯ Harmonic Major. Click any chord below to open its full diagram and progressions.

Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal.

Practice tips

Highlight the flat sixth over a major triad - it's the only note that distinguishes harmonic major from the standard major scale.

Where you will hear A♯ Harmonic Major

A♯ Harmonic Major appears throughout harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal. Listening to music in this scale and transcribing short phrases is the fastest way to absorb its sound.

Formula & step pattern

Formula
1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M
Step pattern
W - W - H - W - H - W+H - H

The A♯ Harmonic Major scale follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color. Step pattern: W - W - H - W - H - W+H - H. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.

Questions people ask

What notes are in the A♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The A♯ Harmonic Major scale contains A♯, B♯, C𝄪, D♯, E♯, F♯ and G𝄪.
What is the formula for the A♯ Harmonic Major scale?
A♯ Harmonic Major follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color.
Is A♯ Harmonic Major a major or minor scale?
A♯ Harmonic Major is a harmonic major scale. Major scale with a flat sixth - bright tonic with a darker undertone, popular in modern jazz.
What chords belong to the A♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The diatonic chords of A♯ Harmonic Major are A♯, B♯°, C𝄪m, D♯m, E♯, F♯+, G𝄪°.
Which genres use A♯ Harmonic Major?
Harmonic major is a modern jazz favourite - mixes the brightness of major with the colour of a flat sixth. Also shows up in film scoring and progressive metal.
How do I practise the A♯ Harmonic Major scale?
Highlight the flat sixth over a major triad - it's the only note that distinguishes harmonic major from the standard major scale.