E 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
- E 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
1Eroot
2F#major 2nd
3G#major 3rd
4Aperfect 4th
5Bperfect 5th
b6Cminor 6th
7D#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
- EWF#WG#HAWBHCWHD#
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEpoint of resttonic
IIIG#defines modal qualitythird
VBsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIID#D#
IEE
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
IIIG#G#
IVAA
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IEE
IIF#F#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how E 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.