C Harmonic Minor Scale

Here is an 8th position C Harmonic Minor scale.  This particular shape has us shifting from 8th position to 9th on the D string and then 10th on the high E string if we want to extend the scale past the C.

Harmonic Minor scales are minor scales with the 7th degree raised a half step.

Let's start by building a minor scale and look at a few ways we can think about it.

1.  We can use the formula:  W H W W H W W W
2.  We can think of it in relationship to a Major scale by building a major scale and then lowering the 3rd, 6th and 7th degree.   Major Scale = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Minor Scale = 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
3. We can think of it as a major scale but start on the 6th degree and play up or down one octave

Here is a C Harmonic Minor scale starting on the 7th degree (B).