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E Harmonic Minor Scale for Guitar

Raise the 7th by a half-step and natural minor turns neo-classical.

Natural minor with the seventh raised a half-step.
That one change gives it a neo-classical, Middle Eastern flavour.
The open D string is deliberately excluded — natural D isn't in the scale.
A favourite in neo-classical and flamenco-influenced rock.

Position 1 — open position

Root2nd3rd4th5th♭67th

Notes: E – F# – G – A – B – C – D# · Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – 7

Across the Fretboard — Full Neck

Root2nd3rd4th5th♭67th

Harmonic-minor position shapes vary significantly between methods; see the full neck above.

One common CAGED approach; positions vary between teachers/methods.

Every E Harmonic Minor note from the open strings to the 17th fret — the root (white ring) repeats every octave.

Hear It For Yourself

This scale sounds even better than it looks.

Light up E Harmonic Minor across the whole fretboard and hear every note in context.

Play E Harm Min in the Studio →

Questions about E Harmonic Minor

What notes are in the E Harmonic Minor scale?

The E Harmonic Minor scale contains the notes E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#. Its interval formula is 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭6 - 7, built from E as the root.

Why is the open D string not used in E harmonic minor?

Because harmonic minor raises the 7th degree — in E that means D♯, not D natural. The open D string would sound a note outside the scale, so the D string starts at the 1st fret instead. It's the one visual quirk of this otherwise open-position shape.

How it compares

Harmonic Minor vs Natural MinorComparison Compare any two scalesInteractive tool