Guitar Tricks Online Guitar Lessons

Harmonic Minor Scale

 

In this lesson we'll look at altering the natural minor scale in order to create a different sound, a new flavor that's called harmonic minor. The only note we'll change is the 7th scale degree from a minor 7th to a major 7th. This has wide ranging consequences.


Historically, this was done in order to achieve a leading tone in the scale, so the V chord would have a major 3rd. So, it was done to create a harmonic functional motion. That's the origin of the name "harmonic minor". Simply changing this one scale note also affects any other chord that the 7th is also use on. As well as each mode of the scale.


These are the harmonies that result from the harmonic minor scale.


  • A - C - E = 1-3-5 (i) A minor chord

  • B - D - F = 2-4-6 (ii dim) B dim chord

  • C - E - G# = 3-5-7 (bIII) E augmented chord

  • D - F - A = 4-6-1 (iv) D minor chord

  • E - G# - B = 5-7-2 (V) E major chord

  • F - A - C = 6-1-3 (bVI) F major chord

  • G# - B - D = 7-2-4 (vii dim) G# diminished chord


    And these are the modes of the harmonic minor scale.


    Harmonic minor

    Locrian with major 6th

    Ionian with #5th (or Augmented)

    Dorian with #4th

    Phrygian Dominant

    Lydian with #2nd

    Ultra Locrian or Jazz Altered

    • Christopher Schlegel
    Instructor Christopher Schlegel
    Tutorial:
    Altered Minor Scales
    Styles:
    Rock
    Difficulty:
    print notation download lesson open guitar tuner
    Harmonic Minor Scale song notation

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