Harmonic Minor Scale Positions
Music Theory: Level 3
•
2m 8s
I have a couple kind of favored positions when it comes to these three-note-per-string scales as far as harmonic minor goes. For example, I actually really actually enjoy the root position. And then of course you’ll also recognize the Phrygian dominant mode which is located in the fifth position. When we go over the chords of the Harmonic Minor Scale, you’ll learn why this is such a popular point in the harmonic minor scale, but, essentially, that fifth position is also a very ergonomically friendly position which lends itself to its usefulness.
Up Next in Music Theory: Level 3
-
Harmonic Minor Scale Playing Examples
Harmonic minor is an essential scale that is used to outline minor chords in your solos when you want to bring a unique and ominous sound to your guitar playing. One of the three big scales in modern music, alongside major and melodic minor, harmonic minor is heard in jazz, fusion, metal, and oth...
-
Harmonic Minor "Home Riffs" Demonstra...
Wrapping your fingers around scales can be a little frustrating in the beginning stages, especially when you're trying to find your voice on the guitar, but still enjoy what you're hearing. In Guitar Super System, I use a strategy called “home riffs” to broaden the comfort zone of an improvising ...
-
The Altered Dominant Sound (part 1)
The Altered Dominant "scale" is actually just a mode shape of the Melodic Minor scale. The reason it's thought of as it's own tonality may have something to do with the ergonomics of the shape, or the accessibility of the interval arrangement of that particular position being more useful in a tra...