While one could conceivably go about their entire guitar existence without knowledge of anything other than the Pentatonic and Diatonic Scales, it is an entirely worthwhile endeavor to expand and examine certain scales that come about through simple modifications of the Major Scale (Ionian) and Minor Scale (Aeolian). In this lesson we will look at the Harmonic Minor scale and its modes. You will find that these modes sound radically different from the Major scale modes. With the Harmonic Minor modes, you can achieve a wide variety of sounds, from a Middle Eastern sound to a Spanish Gypsy (check out the 5th mode...) sound. People often associate Harmonic Minor with the so-called Neoclassical players like Yngwie Malmsteen, but the scale goes much deeper than that, as I think you will soon find out.

When you practice these, keep in mind that the Diatonic Scale exercises apply here as well (3 octave scales, sequences and patterns).

Also, since I am using G Harmonic Minor for these exercises, you should expect that these modes will be similar to all the modes in Bb Major (because G Minor is the Minor mode of Bb Major). The table below shows which Harmonic modes are similar to which Major modes. (Note: They are similar - not the same!)

In the previous exercise, I mentioned how the Harmonic Minor was similar to the Minor. Well, recall that in the Diatonic Scales and Modes lesson, we saw that the Minor mode is the sixth mode of the Major scale. So the 6th mode of the Major scale is similar to the 1st mode of the Harmonic Minor. So by similar reasoning, you can imagine that the 2nd Harmonic Minor mode might very well be similar to the 7th mode of the Major scale. And what do you know - the 2nd Harmonic Minor mode is also called the Locrain Natural 6 (Locrian is the 7th mode of the Major scale!). This scale sounds good played over a Min7b5 chord (as does the Locrian mode).

Here we see the Locrian Natural 6. Notice hoe similar the scale shape is to the Locrian mode. The only difference is that here the 6th note is raised.

See exercise 1 for any special instructions. Also, try ascending with the Locrian 6 and descending with the Locrian. Another thing to try, is playing this scale over an A Min7b5 chord.