The Harmonic Minor Scale
The Harmonic Minor Scale can be considered as a variant of the Natural Minor Scale (Relative Minor). Although the only difference between Harmonic Minor and Natural Minor is one note, that one note opens up a whole new world in minor sounds.
This is a Mini Lesson, so there is a lot more about the Harmonic Minor Scale and it's uses than appears here. In Yellow Guitar Books Volume II - Case Studies For Guitar, there will be a complete in depth study of this interesting and useful scale.
Here is how Harmonic Minor compares with the Major Scale and the Natural Minor Scale in the key of E:
E Major Scale
E 1
F# 1 G# ˝ A 1 B
1 C# 1 D# ˝
1
2
3
4 5 6 7
E Natural Minor Scale
E
1 F# ˝ G 1 A
1 B ˝ C 1 D 1
1
2 b3
4 5 b6 b7
E Harmonic Minor Scale
E
1 F# ˝ G 1 A 1 B
˝ C 1 ˝ D# ˝
1
2 b3
4 5
b6
7
So as you can see, the difference between
the Natural Minor Scale and the Harmonic Minor Scale is that the b7
in a Minor Scale is raised ˝ step to the natural 7 in the Harmonic
Minor Scale. The fingerings in the diagram below follow this simple
approach to create Harmonic Minor Scales. If you take the fingerings
for the 5 Minor Scale shapes you already know and raise the b7 to
natural 7 you will be playing Harmonic Minor!
It is possible to finger the Harmonic
Minor Scale in different ways, however it is best to start with
something you know (Natural Minor), then alter that to create Harmonic
Minor. This way your fingers will be playing the scales in the same
way that they are shown in the theory above. This makes it much
easier to learn all 5 positions of the Harmonic Minor Scale quickly.
Follow the fingerings carefully and get ready for the longer
stretch to the new natural 7 in the Harmonic Minor Scale that has
been raised from the b7 from the Natural Minor Scale.
Once you are comfortable with these fingerings,
try to find other ways the play them. Here is a hint: Try playing
the 7, 1, 2 and b3 on the same string.
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