Tuning-specific scale diagram

A Harmonic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning

A Harmonic Minor Scale in 8-String Standard Tuning shows the same a harmonic minor scale pitch classes across 8 strings tuned F# B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the pattern into the lower register for wider-range riffs and chord voicings.

Scale notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Semitones: 0 2 3 5 7 8 11
Tuning: F# B E A D G B E
Strings: 8
Open pitch range: F#1 to E4
24-fret range: F#1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

6 of the 8 open strings belong to A Harmonic Minor Scale: string 7 B (2), string 6 E (5), string 5 A (1), string 4 D (4), string 2 B (2), and string 1 E (5). A roots occur on open string 5.

String 7B2

String 6E5

String 5A1

String 4D4

String 2B2

String 1E5

First root on each string

String 8Fret 3

String 7Fret 10

String 6Fret 5

String 5Open

String 4Fret 7

String 3Fret 2

String 2Fret 10

String 1Fret 5

Low-string pattern

On the lowest F# string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 11, with the A root at fret 3. On the highest E string, the first A is at fret 5.

Fret 2G#7

Fret 3A1

Fret 5B2

Fret 6Cb3

Fret 8D4

Fret 10E5

Fret 11Fb6

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play A Harmonic Minor Scale on the low F# string at frets 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Build a phrase that lets B on open string 7 ring, then connect it to the nearest A root and two other scale tones.
Connect the A root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 3, 10, 5, 0, 7, 2, 10, and 5, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.