C♭ 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 C♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A𝄫 B♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3M · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7M |
| Step pattern | W W H W H W+H H |
| Chords in the key | C♭D♭°E♭mF♭mG♭A𝄫+B♭° |
Chords in the C♭ Harmonic Major scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
C♭ Harmonic Major on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♭ Harmonic Major uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and B♭) and three white. C♭, F♭ and A𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, E and G.
C♭ · D♭ · E♭ · F♭ · G♭ · A𝄫 · B♭
Try C♭ Harmonic Major on the virtual piano
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C♭ Harmonic Major on the guitar
C♭ Harmonic Major - fr 0–12
C♭ Harmonic Major on the staff
Notes of the C♭ Harmonic Major scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | D♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | E♭ | major 3rd3M | 4 | |
| 4 | F♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | G♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | A𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | B♭ | major 7th7M | 11 |
What makes C♭ 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 C♭, C♭ Harmonic Major has A𝄫 where C♭ Major has A♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Major (C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭).
How to use the C♭ Harmonic Major scale
The diatonic chords of C♭ Harmonic Major are: I = C♭, ii° = D♭°, iii = E♭m, iv = F♭m, V = G♭, VI+ = A𝄫+, vii° = B♭°. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in C♭ 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 C♭ 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 C♭ Harmonic Major
Start with the music described above: listen for C♭ 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 C♭ Harmonic Major scale?
The C♭ Harmonic Major scale contains C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A𝄫 and B♭.
What is the formula for the C♭ Harmonic Major scale?
C♭ Harmonic Major follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color.
Is C♭ Harmonic Major a major or minor scale?
C♭ 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 C♭ Harmonic Major scale?
The diatonic chords of C♭ Harmonic Major are C♭, D♭°, E♭m, F♭m, G♭, A𝄫+, B♭°.
Which genres use C♭ 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 C♭ Harmonic Major scale on the piano?
On the piano C♭ Harmonic Major uses four black keys (D♭, E♭, G♭ and B♭) and three white. C♭, F♭ and A𝄫 are the white keys you'd normally call B, E and G.
What is the difference between C♭ Harmonic Major and C♭ Major?
On C♭, C♭ Harmonic Major has A𝄫 where C♭ Major has A♭; every other note is shared with C♭ Major (C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭).
How do I practise the C♭ 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.