Harmonic Minor Scales
A harmonic minor scale is a series of seven notes based on a pattern of whole steps and half steps between notes. The pattern is
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole+Half Half
For example, lets look at F harmonic minor scale.
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole+Half Half
For example, lets look at F harmonic minor scale.
Photo Credit: [F harmonic minor scale] Wikimedia Commons retrieved on 9/25/2013 from commons.wikimedia.org
The harmonic minor scale is very similar to the natural minor scale except that the seventh scale degree is raised one half step up. In F harmonic minor, the E-flat is raised to an E. Listen to the following video and see if you can hear the weird seventh degree (the scale is in the first 25 seconds of the video).
Video Credit: [E harmonic minor scale] Youtube retrieved on 9/25/2013 from www.youtube.com
The harmonic minor scale can be played in all twelve of the minor keys but the pattern of whole and half steps always remains the same. For example, in B harmonic minor
B to C-sharp C-sharp to D D to E E to F-sharp F-sharp to G G to A-sharp A-sharp to B
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole+Half Half
B to C-sharp C-sharp to D D to E E to F-sharp F-sharp to G G to A-sharp A-sharp to B
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole+Half Half
Photo Credit: [B harmonic minor scale] Wikimedia Commons retrieved on 9/25/2013 from commons.wikimedia.org
The harmonic minor scale is the same ascending as it is descending.