Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor scale is a natural minor with a raised (major) seventh step. This creates an exotic-sounding three-fret interval flanked by half steps. It may also be used create a strong minor resolution, and is common in the neo-classical style. The notes, tones, and intervallic structure are shown below on E.

⤢

E harmonic minor, patterns 1 – 5

The harmonic minor scale can be played in five different “positional” patterns on the neck. The easiest way to learn them is to take natural minor and raise each 7th step one fret (so it is found a half step below each root). Of course, this approach assumes you already know the natural minor. If not, review the patterns on page 26. The major 7ths are shown in grey.

⤢

Fingering: Pattern 1 is in open (first) position. Pattern 2 is in second position (stretch fourth finger up on string 5). Pattern 3 is in fifth and fourth positions. Pattern 4 starts in sixth position and shifts up to seventh position on string 5. Pattern 5 is in ninth position (tenth for strings 1 and 2).

Here is the entire neck for E harmonic minor. Because of how the patterns connect together, the B note appears doubled in lower pattern 1. Follow the directions in parenthesis to avoid playing this note twice. The higher pattern 1 begins at the eleventh fret, and so avoids this situation.

• Pause the scale from time to time and play the Em anchor chords to hear E as the root.

⤢

Other tonalities

Below are full neck patterns for A and C harmonic minor, along with the anchor chords. Play the patterns for each tonality. Then shift into other keys.

⤢

⤢

For other keys, simply slide the nearest pattern up or down the neck. (See page 63 for note names on the neck, if necessary.)

E harmonic minor, three notes per string

For faster scale runs, three-note-per-string scale patterns are useful. There are seven different three-note-per-string patterns—one beginning on each tone of the scale. (Pattern 1 is also shown at the octave position, below.)

• Consistent alternate picking is recommended, beginning with a downstroke. For example, when playing any of these patterns, string 6 will always be ‘down-up-down’ followed by ‘up-down-up’ on string 5. Repeat this approach on strings 4 and 3, then again on strings 2 and 1.

⤢

Fingering: Allow your position to change fluidly through each pattern. For example, pattern 2 begins in second position, changes to fourth position (string 2), and stretches back a fret on string 1. When spanning five frets with whole steps (as in pattern 3, string 6), use fingering 1–2–4. When spanning five frets with a minor third and half step (as in pattern 3, string 5), use fingering 1–3–4.

Other tonalities, three notes per string

Below are the three-note-per-string patterns for A and C harmonic minor. In each case, pattern 1 begins on the root on the sixth string, and the sequence of the patterns remains the same as on the previous page.

⤢

⤢

For other keys, simply slide the patterns up or down the neck. (See page 63 for note names on the neck.)