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A minor 6 diminished (Barry Harris) scale

The A minor 6 diminished (Barry Harris) scale is made of the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, F♯, G♯. It has 8 notes; compared with the major scale its formula is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 6 7.

Bebop · 8 notes

Note names
  1. 1A
  2. 2B
  3. ♭3C
  4. 4D
  5. 5E
  6. ♭6F
  7. 6F♯
  8. 7G♯

PatternW – H – W – W – H – H – W – H(W = whole step, H = half step)

Eight-note scales: the added note makes chord tones land on the strong beats. Degrees are shown relative to the major scale: ♭3 is the third lowered by a half step, ♯4 the fourth raised.

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Mode and chords

Barry Harris's eight-note scale: a harmonic minor with the major 6th added. It alternates the notes of the m6 chord and of a diminished chord, and is played over the m6 chord.

Used overAm(maj7)Am6

Put it into practice

The scale played in thirds over one octave: one of the exercises MEG generates from this scale.

This scale is not part of the demo: in the MEG app you will find it in every key, with 24 patterns.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the A minor 6 diminished (Barry Harris) scale?
The notes are A, B, C, D, E, F, F♯, G♯.
What is the pattern of the A minor 6 diminished (Barry Harris) scale?
The sequence of steps is W – H – W – W – H – H – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step); compared with the major scale the degrees are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 6 7.
Which chords is the A minor 6 diminished (Barry Harris) scale used over?
It is used over Am(maj7), Am6: the chords on the tonic made of the notes of the scale.

Texts and tools by , professional musician and developer. Last updated: October 9, 2026.