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harmonic minor


astring

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Posted

I was messing around with harmonic minor scales today and I got a way to think about them that just set them under my fingers no problem. I think of the relative major with a sharp 5. so an A harmonic minor is a c scale with a sharp 5 (start and stop on a).

 

This is a scale that I really do not use but a buddy does neoclassic speed metal and seemed to use it all over the place so I thought I would get under my fingers for the heck of it.

 

Anyone want to share some insights on the harmonic minor and how it is being used.

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Posted

-------------------------------------------------------------------13-15-16-
---------------------------------------------------12-13-15-16--------------
--------------------------------------10-12-13---------------------------------
-----------------------9-10-12-13----------------------------------------------
------------8-10-11-------------------------------------------------------------
--8-10-11--------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 3 4 1 3 4 1 1 3 4 1 1 3 4 1 3 4

This is an example of C harmonic minor and a way to simplify the fingering. I use the harmonic minor fairly often but I don't run it super fast. I really enjoy the phrygian dominant mode, which is built off of the 5th degree of harmonic minor. It has a really latin sort of a vibe. Mess around with it. Take this C harmonic minor and play it over a G7. It's pretty cool.

:thu:

*I know the fingerings don't line up, but you get the idea. It's just 1 3 4, 1 3 4, 1 slide up a fret and start over.

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Posted

Kinda like a spice.

Like in Blue Bossa, you could play C harmonic minor over the Cmin chord.

But for jazz, I'd focus more on the melodic minor scale, or just think major and add chromatic notes.

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Posted

I can shed some light on it for you...

here's something at my forum that breaks out the chords of the scale and shows you all the diminished possibilities (well, not ALL of them). Shows some of the diminish arps and pedal point stuff that's very common with the scale.

http://gennation.jconserv.net/viewtopic.php?t=8

Then there's always the Phrygian Dominant Tutorial (the 5th mode of the Harm Min scale): http://lessons.mikedodge.com

Both are pretty thorough and will shows a lot of "insight" about the scale.

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Posted

I agree with the melodic minor and modal approach instead.

You can also hybrid in scales to get an equal exotic feel. You really do not have to ever use this scale. It is an ear pleasing scale but unfortunately it has been epicly abused by overworn, copycat 80's neoclassical clones.

:thu:

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Posted

Originally posted by gennation

I can shed some light on it for you...


here's something at my forum that breaks out the chords of the scale and shows you all the diminished possibilities (well, not ALL of them). Shows some of the diminish arps and pedal point stuff that's very common with the scale.




Then there's always the Phrygian Dominant Tutorial (the 5th mode of the Harm Min scale):


Both are pretty thorough and will shows a lot of "insight" about the scale.

 

 

I'll take some time on these (thanks).

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