Harmonium Scales: Learn All 4 Types & Unlock Musical Expression (Beginner Guide)

Do you know what is the meaning of scales? Scales are the set of notes arranged in ascending order of pitch. There are different types of scales that can be played in a harmonium. In this blog, we are going to do an in-depth study of the scales of the harmonium.

Saptak

Like all other forms of music, Indian classical music also have 7 basic notes that are – sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa. There are many group of the seven notes in a harmonium on the basis of pitch levels. One such group of the seven basic notes is known as one saptak.

Types of scales

On the basis of tone formation, there are three types of scales that can be played in the harmonium. They are –

• Major scale
• Natural minor scale
• Harmonic minor scale
• Melodic minor scale

Major scale

Major scales are the scale that represents the major qualities and emotions like happiness, joy, ecstasy, and positivity.
There is a particular pattern of tone and semitones that is to be followed in order to derive the major scale of a note. It is as follows –
Note – tone – tone – semitone – tone – tone – tone – semitone

On the basis of the formula stated above, the major scale of the 7 basic notes is as follows –

C D E F G A B C
D E F# G A B C# D
E F# G# A B C# D# E
F G A Bb C D E F
G A B C D E F# G
A B C# D E F# G# A
B C# D# E F# G# A# B

Natural Minor

All minor scales represent the emotions and qualities associated with the minor like sadness, mystery, and fright.
Similar to major scales, minor scales are also driven by a tone and semitone-based formula. It goes as follows –
Note – tone -semitone – tone – tone – semitone – tone – tone

On the basis of the aforementioned formula, the natural minor scales of the 7 basic notes are as follows –

C D D# F G G# A# C
D E F G A A# C D
E F# G A B C D E
G A A# C D D# F G
A B C D E F G A
B C# D E F# G A B

Harmonic minor scale

Comparatively, it is not hard to derive the formula of the harmonic minor scale. The harmonic minor scale is derived from the natural minor scale. In order to derive the harmonic minor scale of a note, you need to increase the 7th note of the natural minor scale by one semitone.
Here are the harmonic minor scales of the 7 basic notes –

C D D# F G G# B C
D E F G A A# C# D
E F# G A B C D# E
G A A# C D E F G
A B C D E F G# A
B C# D E F# G A# B

Melodic minor scale

It is, even more, easier to derive the melodic minor scale of a note if you are clear with the formula of the natural minor scale. In order to derive the melodic minor scale of a note, you need to increase the 6th and the 7th note of the natural minor scale by one semitone.
Following are the natural minor scales of the 7 basic notes –
C D D# F G A# B C
D E F G A B C# D
E F# G A B C# D# E
G A A# C D F F# G
A B C D E F# G# A
B C# D E F# G# A# B

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

• How to play Harmonium on Different scales for beginners G# A#/Bflat C C# D D# | Indian Music ART – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUvWM839yi0
• हार्मोनीयम में कितने स्केल होते हैं How many Singing Scales in Harmonium | Indian Music ART –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZhJiSeK2dA
• Sa ka riyaaz on harmonium c# scale riyaaz music – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yfT8eAnvEE