F# Harmonic Minor

E# or F Natural


Adding the accidental E# (my) to F# natural minor creates a leading tone and changes the mode to harmonic minor.   Notice that E# looks and sounds exactly the same as F natural; they are, in fact, enharmonic with one another.  The choice of E# over F natural has everything to do with maintaining scalar appearance.   For example, consider the following example:

 

 

 

In addition, E# to F# looks like it functions as a leading-tone; F natural to F# does not.   In order to include A on ① in the F# harmonic minor scale, the left hand needs to temporarily shift in and out of Pos II.  This will be a glide shift, involving “1” on ① when moving from E# to F#.