D Harmonic major
Major with a lowered 6th degree; it combines a major tonic with minor-subdominant colour.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- D Harmonic major
- Family
- Harmonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – H – W+H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-1-3-1
Notes & degrees
1Droot
2Emajor 2nd
3F#major 3rd
4Gperfect 4th
5Aperfect 5th
b6Bbminor 6th
7C#major 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Major with a lowered 6th degree; it combines a major tonic with minor-subdominant colour.
- Application in music
- The lowered 6th produces minor subdominant iv in a major context and supports the iv – I move.
- Interval formula
- DWEWF#HGWAHBbWHC#
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDpoint of resttonic
IIIF#defines modal qualitythird
VAsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIC#C#
IDD
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIF#F#
IVGG
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDD
IIEE
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how D Harmonic major looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.