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July 2009 \ Premier Clinic \ Rock \ The Harmonic Minor Scale

The Harmonic Minor Scale Mike Campese Modes, fingerings, arpeggios and applications of the harmonic minor scale

This lesson, I will be showing you the harmonic minor scale. We will cover the modes, the three-note-per-string fingerings, arpeggios and some basic applications. The harmonic minor scale has a classical flavor to it, but you can use it in any style of music. This scale has a distinct sound to it and it is important to get the sound of it in your ear. Many well-known composers use this scale in their writing. Let's cover some of the basics of this scale.

How is the Harmonic minor constructed?
The minor 3rd interval between the 6th and 7th degree creates the classical flavor to the scale. The formula of this scale is (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7). It is important to memorize the formula so you can construct it in any key.

Harmonic minor scale fingerings

Example 1 is all 7, 3-note-per-string patterns of the harmonic minor scale. They are in the key of F# (F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E#). Be sure to move them around once memorized and make up your own ways to play them.

	Example 1:
Listen

Example 2 is a extended version of the scale that moves across the neck. Notice the pattern that moves up each octave is the same for all three octaves. When playing this ascending, your pinky slides up the neck; descending, your index finger slides down the neck. You might want to follow the suggested fingerings.

	Example 2:
Listen

Practicing the Harmonic minor scale

Once the fingerings are memorized, it is a good idea to practice this scale using scale sequences. Instead of giving you common sequences to practice and send you on your way, I have decided to give you a more challenging one like in example 3. This is not your common sequence, this a more intervallic approach. This pattern is based off a minor 3rd interval and a major 6th interval, moving up the F# harmonic minor scale. Basically, you go up a minor 3rd, then move up five notes from where you are at in the scale, then down a major 6th. Depending on where you are at in the scale, the interval will be a minor 6th instead of a major 6th.

	Example 3:
Listen

Harmonic minor scale harmony

It is very important to know what chords are diatonic to the scale, the left column are the diatonic triads and the right is the 7th chords. You can also play these as arpeggios, like in example 4, play these in different positions.

minor                    minor maj7
diminished             minor 7th (b5)
augmented            augmented major 7th
minor                    minor 7th
major                    dominant 7th
major                    major 7th
diminished             diminished 7th

	Example 4:
Listen

Harmonic Minor Modes

Here is a list of modes of the harmonic minor scale. Be sure to memorize these and play them in all keys. Phrygian dominant is one of the most used modes from this scale and you will notice it has a Spanish flavor.

Harmonic Minor=1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Locrian Natural 6=1, b2, b3, 4, b5, 6, b7
Ionian Augmented=1, 2, 3, 4, #5, 6, 7
Dorian #4=1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Phrygian Dominant=1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Lydian #9=1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Altered Dominant bb7=1, b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, bb7

Harmonic Minor Application

This scale is commonly used over dominant chords like a V7 to I progression, for example G7-Cm. Try recording this progression and play the C harmonic minor scale over the G7, this will bring the sound of the 5th mode phrygian dominant and over the Cm use the C natural minor scale. You can also play the harmonic minor over the Cm, but you will notice the harmonic minor works better with the dominant, it is up to you to experiment. Try recording just a Dominant chord and play the harmonic minor off the root. You can also use this scale over the chords that are diatonic to the scale. In a rock situation try playing power chords off each note of the scale and instead of playing the 7th chords you can just play the triads. There are many more applications you can do with the harmonic minor scale.

Let me give you some lines to practice using this scale. Check out example 5, this is a line in the F# harmonic minor scale. This one mixes some fast scale passages and arpeggios. The first measure kicks off with a ascending A major 7(#5) arpeggio (A, C#, E#, G#) beginning with F and then a D major 7th arpeggio (D, F#, A, C#). You might want to follow the fingerings supplied. 

	Example 5:
Listen

Example 6 This one is also in the F# harmonic minor scale and it is based from a repeated pattern moving down the scale. This one moves down the scale very quickly, be sure both hands are in sync.

	Example 6:
Listen

That wraps up our lesson! Be sure to spend time exploring the harmonic minor scale and use it in your playing and don't forget to visit mikecampese.com.