Jazz Guitar Lesson

The Harmonic Minor Scale

The harmonic minor scale is commonly used by jazz musicians. It has a darker "Arabic" sound because of the lowered third and sixth degrees (when compared to major). It has been used, much like the major scale, in traditional and classical music for centuries.

Please refer to the minor scale article in Wikipedia if needed.

On the guitar it can be played in the open position :

Or it can be played using only one string at a time. The single-string option really "shows" the scale to you. Every interval (distance between two notes) is clearly defined.

Notice the leap created by the largest interval between two consecutive notes :

Learn to really hear the sound of this scale, specifically the leap. Understanding the theory is optional in the beginning. I suggest you play and learn this scale from an aural perspective at first.

Also, it is highly common for jazz guitarists to sing along to their playing. Try it! It helps to reinforce the link between your fingers (what you play) and you ears (what you hear inside.)

Scale Construction

The harmonic minor scale is built of seven notes that are laid out using intervals. The half-step interval is one fret away, the whole step is two frets away and the minor third is three frets. The minor third can also be qualified as "three half-steps" or "a whole step and a half".

The formula for the construction is :
W H W W H -3 H
(W= whole-step, H=half-step, -3=minor third)

The numeric formula is : 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
(it means that in comparison to the major scale, the harmonic minor scale has a b3 and b6)

The lowered third degree gives the "sadness" in the sound. The b6 on the other hand gives "brightness" because it creates a leap to the seventh degree. It easy to "see" when played on a single string.

In Position

Finally, the harmonic minor scale can also be played "in position" (one finger to a fret). This is usually what is taught in guitar methods.

It is a very good way to "compartmentalize" the neck. You will get familiar with the whole instrument dealing with it chunk by chunk.

Moving On

Get the feel and sound of this scale into you ears and fingers. Then make sure you check out the major scale and the melodic minor scale.