One way the harmonic minor is different to the natural minor is that it has two chords which have the same structure when inverted, so they do not belong to any key. Harmonic Minor Scale: 1 2 3 ♭ 4 5 6 ♭ 7 8įor example, in the key of A minor, the harmonic minor scale is: The harmonic minor scale is the same as the natural minor but with the seventh note raised by a semitone. If the white notes are played starting from the sixth step of that C scale, (from any A to the next A), then an A natural minor scale (the " relative minor" of C) is produced. For example, the white notes of a keyboard from one C to the next C up makes a C major scale. Here below you find a video that shows you two different fingerings for the E harmonic minor scale, oneĬovering 1 single octave and one that goes all along the fretboard.The natural minor scale is the same as the 6th mode (or Aeolian mode) of the major scale. Harmonic Minor Scale: Video Exercises and Conclusions Harmonic Minor Scale Quadriads Harmonization C m(maj7) Harmonic Minor Scale Triads Harmonization C min It may not be used a lot, but it is good to have in your arsenal. Harmonies, but if that is what you are looking for in your composition, the scale is worth trying. It's true that because the harmonic minor scale is different from the usual modes you will be playing in, it doesn't have that many applications. Will see the harmonic minor scale in passing like this.
Our ears are simply not attuned to those chords and intervals. You'll notice all the songs that have more of the harmonic scale, sound a little strange and exotic. Last one sounds familiar you may remember a similar harmonic minor use in the Castlevania videogame. Tunes like " Mediterranean Sundance, or " Stash".Īnd even though the metal genre uses it quite a bit, it is still mixed in with other minor scales. Instead we need some that have more prominent
#Harmonic minor scale full#
It's not hard to find examples of songs that do this, but it's so brief it's not the best example of the full harmonic scale sound. The song is mostly in the natural minor until The " Sultans of Swing" is a great example of the quick V7 use. Considering how much metal is influenced by classical music, this is no surprise. Most songs that people like use natural or melodic minor, however heavyĪnd its subgenres don't mind the odd sound. We are not going to find a ton of "popular" examples in harmonic minor as it has its own unique flavor to it. Progressions, so that is not one you will have to worry about. Or if you just have a ii-V7-i you can just use the harmonic minor over the V7. Other possible but simple progressions are i-iv-V7 or ii(dim)-V7-i. And you would only likely be playing the A harmonic scale over the E7 chord. TheĬommon progression would be V7-i, like E7-Am. All those other chords will not be used as much as the major V in a minor scale. The point being that the harmonic minor scale has some specific chords and sounds so you must be careful when using it.īut as we mentioned, the harmonic minor is just used in parts of a song, particularly over V7's. A iv chord may be as simple as a m9, while the ii can be as complicated as a The VI can be used as a maj7 and the diminished can both be used with a 7th like m7b5 or dim7.Īnd further extended chords will be min(Maj9) and other 9ths based on their position and chord degree. If you have an imin(Maj7) then you will want to play a harmonic scale over This odd assortment of chords makes it perfect for playing over minMaj7 as they are made up of 1 b3 5 7 Despite theĭissonance of the scale, it provides interesting ways to play around The most important part to takeaway is that our scale allows our V to be a dominant chord, like a V7. Yes, you are reading that right the III is augmented and the ii and vii are both diminished.
Made it harder to resolve, which makes it less popular among composers! That raised 7th has created more dissonance Of course, your harmonic minor will not have the same applications as the natural, as our chords that we can make are changed quite a bit. Chords and Progressions for Harmonic Minor