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