B♯ Harmonic Major at a glance
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 B♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B♯ C𝄪 D𝄪 E♯ F𝄪 G♯ A𝄪 |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | B♯C𝄪°D𝄪mE♯mF𝄪G♯+A𝄪° |
Chords in the B♯ Harmonic Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B♯ Harmonic Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · B♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B♯ Harmonic Major uses one black key (G♯) and six white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and A𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F, G and B.
B♯ · C𝄪 · D𝄪 · E♯ · F𝄪 · G♯ · A𝄪
Try B♯ Harmonic Major on the virtual piano
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B♯ Harmonic Major on the guitar
B♯ Harmonic Major - fr 0–12
B♯ Harmonic Major on the staff
Notes of the B♯ Harmonic Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C𝄪 | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | D𝄪 | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | E♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F𝄪 | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G♯ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A𝄪 | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes B♯ Harmonic Major different
Harmonic major is the major scale with a lowered sixth, the one note that separates it from major. The ♭6 opens an augmented second between the sixth and seventh degrees, the same gap harmonic minor has, but over a major tonic. It changes the subdominant: the iv chord is minor while V stays major, so the minor iv to I cadence is built into the scale. Its ♭VI chord is augmented. On B♯, B♯ Harmonic Major has G♯ where B♯ Major has G𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Major (B♯ C𝄪 D𝄪 E♯ F𝄪 G𝄪 A𝄪).
How to use the B♯ Harmonic Major scale
The diatonic chords of B♯ Harmonic Major are: I = B♯, ii° = C𝄪°, iii = D𝄪m, iv = E♯m, V = F𝄪, VI+ = G♯+, vii° = A𝄪°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B♯ Harmonic Major. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own 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.
Formula & step pattern
The B♯ 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.
Where you will hear B♯ Harmonic Major
Start with the music described above: listen for B♯ Harmonic Major in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The B♯ Harmonic Major scale contains B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪, G♯ and A𝄪.
What is the formula for the B♯ Harmonic Major scale?
B♯ Harmonic Major follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color.
Is B♯ Harmonic Major a major or minor scale?
B♯ 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 B♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The diatonic chords of B♯ Harmonic Major are B♯, C𝄪°, D𝄪m, E♯m, F𝄪, G♯+, A𝄪°.
Which genres use B♯ 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 you play the B♯ Harmonic Major scale on the piano?
On the piano B♯ Harmonic Major uses one black key (G♯) and six white. B♯, C𝄪, D𝄪, E♯, F𝄪 and A𝄪 are the white keys you'd normally call C, D, E, F, G and B.
What is the difference between B♯ Harmonic Major and B♯ Major?
On B♯, B♯ Harmonic Major has G♯ where B♯ Major has G𝄪; every other note is shared with B♯ Major (B♯ C𝄪 D𝄪 E♯ F𝄪 G𝄪 A𝄪).
How do I practise the B♯ 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.