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
1D#root
2E#major 2nd
3Gmajor 3rd
4G#perfect 4th
5A#perfect 5th
b6Bminor 6th
7Dmajor 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
- D#WE#WGHG#WA#HBWHD
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ID#point of resttonic
IIIGdefines modal qualitythird
VA#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIDD
ID#D#
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIGG
IVG#G#
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ID#D#
IIE#E#
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.