So place your second finger at the 3rd fret and you will play the G Major Scale (because the note on the 3rd fret of the 6th string is the note G). I personally hardly ever use this scale but the scales section of the site would not be complete without it. If that don't make sense yet, you might not need to learn it! The Harmonic Minor is a Natural Minor with a raised 7th degree which enables a Dominant V chord! The change comes in the seventh degree. The harmonic minor scale on A. For example Harmonic Major is comparable to the Major Scale, having a lowered sixth but otherwise being identical (the scale is also referred to as Major b6 Scale). The harmonic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale. In level of importance, I place this scale pretty low unless you are specifically looking to play classical (baroque) style music. Now you can use this anywhere you want. Look at Position 1 below and notice that the R is on the 6th string (played with the second finger). Harmonic Minor: The Five Patterns. It is a very popular and useful scale that can be used in many practical and creative ways. In the harmonic minor scale the distance between the sixth and seventh scale degrees is a step-and-a-half (three half-steps, also known as a Minor 3rd). The Harmonic Minor Scale is one of three minor scales. Then move by a semitone to the minor 3rd of Bb. Look at any of the scales and arpeggios (and most chords) on this site and you will see an R on some notes. You’ll need to remember the interval pattern of the Harmonic Minor Scale: Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Augmented Second, Semitone. Harmonic Major Scales. A root note gives the scale it's name. We know from the harmonic minor lesson that the scale contains 7 tones. The lowered sixth makes the subdominant chord a minor instead of a major (in Harmonic Major C, this would be Fm). These are also known as degrees. Click here to see how your donation will help the site! With each scale I have discussed my preferences for fingering the scale. If that don't make sense yet, you might not need to learn it! The Harmonic Minor Scale is common scale Classical and Neo-classical (Yngwie and co.), and a few modes of it are commonly used. There are many approaches and so long as you have a logical one, it will be fine. The other two are the Natural Minor and the Melodic Minor. A natural minor scale uses this formula of tones and semitones (whole steps and half steps). The sound of the Harmonic Scale is somewhat characterized by the music of the Middle East. The harmonic minor scale, like any other scale, is a certain pattern of notes. The Harmonic Minor is a Natural Minor with a raised 7th degree which enables a Dominant V chord! To create the G Harmonic Minor Scale, for example, start with that movement of a tone that takes you from G to A. Whatever note you put that one becomes the name of the scale. The Harmonic Minor differs from the Natural Minor by the sharpened seventh note, and this minor scale is consequently not played in the same way as the relative major scale. The harmonic minor scale is used a lot in jazz, especially in vocabulary from the bebop and hard bop eras (the melody to “Donna Lee” is just one example). In music theory, the term minor scale refers to three scale patterns – the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale (ascending or descending) – rather than just one as with the major scale. So far, the seven-note scales we've discussed (major, natural minor, Mixolydian) are each a unique series of whole-steps and half-steps. Place the second finger on the 9th fret and you will play the C Major Scale (because the note at the 9th fret of the 6th string is the note C#). In level of importance, I place this sc... Click here to see how your donation will help the site. These useful accidentals are featured in the melodic minor and harmonic minor scales. I personally hardly ever use this scale but the scales section of the site would not be complete without it. The change comes in the seventh degree. ALWAYS START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE, LEARN THE PATTERNS (SHAPES) ONE AT A TIME. You can read my recent post for a recap of what the harmonic minor scale is and how it’s derived. This is note that gives the scale it's note name. The step is not raised in the key signature; instead, it’s raised through the use of accidentals (sharps, double sharps, or naturals). The Harmonic Minor Scale is common scale Classical and Neo-classical (Yngwie and co.), and a few modes of it are commonly used. In level of importance, I place this scale pretty low unless you are specifically looking to play classical (baroque) style music. Don't spend a lot of time on this one unless you really know why you are learning it! It is easy to predict where the relative minor of a major key can be found. Harmonic Minor is identical to the Natural Minor scale for the first six scale degrees. The first minor scale we’ll look at is the natural minor scale. The interval patterns for major and natural minor scales are basically the same pattern starting at different points. Figure 4.24. Side note: Melodic and harmonic minor scales are nothing to do with melodic and harmonic intervals. In each of these scales, the first, third, and fifth scale degrees form a minor triad (rather than a major triad, as in a major scale). The Natural Minor Scale. I have thought about these things a lot and think I have a compelling argument in favour of each finger decision, but please contact me (via the forum) if you disagree - I am certainly up for discussing it (how sad... get a life...). By raising the 7th, the harmonic minor scale breaks this pattern of only whole-steps and half-steps. They’re completely different things but we use the same word.