F♭ Harmonic Major scale
The F♭ Harmonic Major scale is a 7-note harmonic major scale built on the root F♭. Its notes are F♭, G♭, A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D𝄫 and E♭. 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 F♭ Harmonic Major a great tool for improvising and composing.
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
- Tonic
- F♭
F♭ Harmonic Major on the piano
F♭ Harmonic Major on the guitar
F♭ Harmonic Major on the staff
Hear the F♭ Harmonic Major scale
Improvisation drone
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
Notes of the F♭ Harmonic Major scale
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1P | 0 | F♭(Fb) | |
| 2 | 2M | 2 | G♭(Gb) | |
| 3 | 3M | 4 | A♭(Ab) | |
| 4 | 4P | 5 | B𝄫(Bbb) | |
| 5 | 5P | 7 | C♭(Cb) | |
| 6 | 6m | 8 | D𝄫(Dbb) | |
| 7 | 7M | 11 | E♭(Eb) |
Diatonic chords of F♭ 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 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. 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 F♭ Harmonic Major
F♭ 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
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.
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 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.