Question

What notes are in the b harmonic minor scale?

Answer 1

`"B C"^♯ "D E F"^♯ "G A"^♯ "B"` if going up in pitch (left to right)
`"B D"^♭ "D E G"^♭ "G B"^♭ "B"` if going down in pitch (right to left)

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Before we define a harmonic minor scale, let us define our notation using a major scale.

For a D major scale, we can write it as

`"D E F"^♯ "G A B C"^♯ "D"`

In pure numbers, it would be

`"1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8"`

where the distance from `3` to `4` and `7` to `8` is a half step.

That allows us to use relative intervals to indicate new scales.

Recall that a B natural minor scale is the relative minor to D major (the Aeolian mode), and is said to be a minor third (3 semitones) below D major.

Let's therefore proceed to write this B natural minor scale by shifting leftwards 3 semitones, but keeping the same key signature (`F^♯, C^♯`).

Ultimately, we end up constructing the same scale as a B major scale except modified with a flatted `3`, `6`, and `7`:

`"1 2 3"^♭ "4 5 6"^♭` `7^♭` `8`

Finally, a harmonic minor scale relative to a natural minor scale has the `7^♭` augmented a half step. So, we'd have `7^♭ -> (7^♭)^♯`, or `7`:

`"1 2 3"^♭ "4 5 6"^♭` `bb(7)` `8`

Convert this back to letter notation to get:

`"B C"^♯ "D E F"^♯ "G A"^♯ "B"`

On a piano, it would look like this: