{"id":5966,"date":"2017-12-27T19:36:27","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T18:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/?p=5966"},"modified":"2024-11-26T15:41:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T14:41:53","slug":"harmonic-minor-scale-jazz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/harmonic-minor-scale-jazz\/","title":{"rendered":"The Harmonic Minor Scale for Jazz Guitar"},"content":{"rendered":"

The harmonic minor scale is a seven-note scale that has the same notes as the natural minor scale with the exception of the seventh note that is raised by one semitone. This seventh note works as a leading tone to the tonic, that’s why it is used often on dominant chords going to a tonic minor chord. Because of this, the harmonic minor scale is\u00a0an essential scale to learn and apply to your solos.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In this lesson, you will learn how the harmonic minor scale is used, how you can apply it to your jazz guitar solos, and more.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/span>\n

Where to Use the Harmonic Minor Scale in Jazz<\/h2>\n

When soloing with the harmonic minor scale in jazz,<\/strong> you don\u2019t often use the scale over minor chords, as you might expect.<\/p>\n

But, you do use it in minor keys<\/strong>, just over the V7 chord in a minor jazz progression.<\/p>\n

The most obvious example of this would be the V7alt chord<\/strong> in a minor ii V I progression, as you see in the examples below. When you\u2019re in a minor key (Am for example), and you see the V7 chord (E7alt in that key), you play A harmonic minor.<\/p>\n

As a guideline, when you have a minor ii V I<\/strong>, you play the tonic harmonic minor scale over the V7alt chord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example, if you have Bm7b5-E7alt-Am7 (a minor ii V I in Am), you play A harmonic minor<\/strong> over the E7alt chord.<\/p>\n

When doing so, you create a 7b9,b13<\/strong> sound over that chord:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
A harmonic Minor<\/th>\nA<\/td>\nB<\/td>\nC<\/td>\nD<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nF<\/td>\nG#<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Played over E7<\/th>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\nb13<\/td>\nb7<\/td>\n1<\/td>\nb9<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another example of where to commonly use this scale is in a jazz blues<\/strong> progression.<\/p>\n

In bar 8 of a jazz blues progression, you have a VI7b9 chord<\/strong>, such as D7b9 in an F jazz blues.<\/p>\n

There, you use the same guideline: over D7b9 you play G harmonic minor<\/strong> in bar 8 of an F blues.<\/p>\n

Now that you know how to use<\/strong> harmonic minor in a jazz context, here are some fingerings to get you started with this scale on the guitar.<\/p>\n

Harmonic Minor Scale Fingerings<\/h2>\n

Here are two fingerings for that scale to learn and add to your soloing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Memorize each shape and take both to all 12 keys<\/strong> with your metronome to drill these shapes into your fingers and ears.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re comfortable<\/strong> with these shapes, move on to the licks and full solo below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hear and Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Harmonic Minor Licks<\/h2>\n

To help you get the sound of this scale into your ear, here are four ii V I lines<\/strong>, 2 short and 2 long, to learn and add to your solos. Start by learning each line as is, then take them to other keys and other positions before adding them to your jazz guitar solos.<\/p>\n

The first lick uses a skip up<\/strong> to the b9 of E7alt (F), that resolves down to the 5th<\/sup> of Am7 (E), in this ii V I in Am.<\/p>\n

Harmonic minor has a number of half-step resolutions<\/strong> that you can explore, and the b6-5 (F-E in Am) is one many players use to create interest in their solos.<\/p>\n

As you expand<\/strong> on this scale in your playing, look for those half-steps to play within your lines as you dig deeper into those sounds in your solos.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hear and Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next lick uses a pattern<\/strong> that runs down the A harmonic minor scale in the second bar of the line.<\/p>\n

This pattern can be heard in Pat Martino\u2019s<\/strong> solos, among others, and it\u2019s a solid way to create a memorable flow to your lines with this scale.<\/p>\n

See if you can continue<\/strong> this pattern down the scale as you expand on it in your playing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hear and Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the first harmonic minor line<\/strong> I ever learned, and it\u2019s one that highlights both the 3rd<\/sup> and b9 of the E7alt chord in the second half of the first bar.<\/p>\n

As well, since this is a short ii V I<\/strong>, where the ii V are in the same bar, you can use A harmonic minor over both chords in that first bar.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to use harmonic minor over both the ii and V<\/strong>, but it can be helpful at faster tempos or when the chords move by quickly such as this line.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hear and Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The final line borrows from the McCoy Tyner<\/strong> playbook, among others, as you use the harmonic minor scale over both the ii and V in a short ii V.<\/p>\n

The opening five notes, B-C-G#-B-A<\/strong>, are commonly used with this scale, so work that pattern into your playing beyond this lick to expand it in your solos.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hear and Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

Harmonic Minor Summertime Solo<\/h2>\n

Now that you know how to use the harmonic minor scale in jazz, how to play it on guitar, and some licks using this scale, you can take it to a tune<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a one-chorus solo over Summertime<\/strong> (in the key of Am), that uses two different harmonic minor scales, A HM and D HM.<\/p>\n

Learn each phrase one at a time<\/strong>, then bring the solo together as a whole from there.<\/p>\n

If you like any of these phrases, take them out of the solo and work it in other keys and positions to take it further in your studies.<\/p>\n

Lastly, learn the solo<\/strong> along with the given audio track before playing it along with the backing track.<\/p>\n

When you can do that, work on soloing in real time<\/strong> over the track, using the harmonic minor scale over the 7alt chords and short ii Vs in this tune.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, have fun<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Backing Track<\/i><\/p>\n

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Play Along<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The harmonic minor scale is a seven-note scale that has the same notes as the natural minor scale with the exception of the seventh note that is raised by one semitone. This seventh note works as a leading tone to the tonic, that’s why it is used often on dominant chords going to a tonic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-scales","category-jazz-guitar-soloing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}