The scale of D harmonic minor starts on the root note D and then follows the step pattern common to all the harmonic minor scales: tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, augmented second (one a half tones), semitone (Figure 1). The big jump between the sixth and seven notes – one and a half tones – is what gives the scale its Spanish or Arabic flavor. Using this pattern, the notes of the D harmonic minor scale turn out to be D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C♯. Fig 2 shows the position of these notes on the guitar fretboard.

 

Playing and harmonizing in the key of D harmonic minor

The triads built upon the scale notes of D harmonic, and which therefore harmonize with a melody played in this key, are:

 

Dmin  Edim  Faug  Gmin  Amaj  Bbmaj  C#dim

 

Among the ways these chords can be played on the guitar are the following:

 

D minor

E diminished

F augmented

G minor

A major

B♭ major

C♯ diminished

 

Adding the seventh note to these triads extends the palette of available chords that can be harmonized with notes from the D harmonic minor scale.

 

i	ii dim	III	iv	v	VI	VII
D min	E dim	F aug	G min	A maj	B♭ maj	C♯ dim
D minmaj7	Em7b5	Fmaj7♯5	G min7	A7	B♭ maj7	C♯ dim7

 

Among typical progressions that might be used are:

 

i - iv - V7   Dm - Gm - A7
ii - V7 - i   Em7♭5 - A7 - Dm