Introduction to the Harmonic Minor Scale
Music Theory: Level 3
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5m 30s
The Harmonic Minor Scale has a certain stereotype to most guitar players. It seems to me whenever you mention Harmonic Minor to a guitar player, the Malmsteen-style Phrygian dominant approach inevitably gets brought up. There's nothing wrong with that–I love Yngwie Malmsteen’s guitar playing–but I think there's a lot more to the Harmonic Minor sound than a neoclassical sweep picking shred-fest.
Up Next in Music Theory: Level 3
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Harmonic Minor Scale Positions
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...
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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...
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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 ...
