D♯ Harmonic Major scale

The D♯ Harmonic Major scale is a 7-note harmonic major scale built on the root D♯. Its notes are D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A♯, B and C𝄪. 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 D♯ 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 D♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where D♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.

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

D♯ Harmonic Major on the piano

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

D♯ Harmonic Major on the guitar

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

D♯ Harmonic Major on the staff

Hear the D♯ Harmonic Major scale

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

Improvisation drone

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

D♯ Harmonic Major
D♯

Notes of the D♯ Harmonic Major scale

DegreeIntervalSemitonesNoteHear
11P0D♯(D#)
22M2E♯(E#)
33M4F𝄪(F##)
44P5G♯(G#)
55P7A♯(A#)
66m8B
77M11C𝄪(C##)

Diatonic chords of D♯ 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 D♯ Harmonic Major scale

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

D♯ 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 D♯ 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 D♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The D♯ Harmonic Major scale contains D♯, E♯, F𝄪, G♯, A♯, B and C𝄪.
What is the formula for the D♯ Harmonic Major scale?
D♯ Harmonic Major follows a major scale with a flat sixth degree, blending major brightness with minor color.
Is D♯ Harmonic Major a major or minor scale?
D♯ 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 D♯ Harmonic Major scale?
The diatonic chords of D♯ Harmonic Major are D♯, E♯°, F𝄪m, G♯m, A♯, B+, C𝄪°.
Which genres use D♯ 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 D♯ 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.