Harmonic Minor Modes

The Harmonic Minor scale is one of the 3 "traditional" minor scales that we use in music. The other 2 are the Aeolian mode (natural minor) and Melodic Minor. The other 2 "minor" scales that we use are the Phrygian and Dorian Modes The Harmonic Minor scale is basically the same as the Natural Minor Scale except that the Harmonic Minor Scale has one difference to it, and that it has a natural 7th (major 7th) as opposed to the Natural Minor Scale, which has a minor 7th. Classical composers would modify the natural minor scale by raising the 7th to strengthen the resolution within the song/progression. The interval between the minor 6th and Major 7th is an augmented 2nd, or a major 3rd when spelled enharmonically. The augmented 2nd between the minor 6th and the major 7th gives this a nice "Middle-Eastern" flavor to it and because it sounds so "classical" in a Baroque sense, this is favored by many heavy metal musicians as well. Natural Minor- 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Harmonic Minor- 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Many modes are possible with the harmonic minor scale. However, many of the modes created within this scale aren't used as often as the ones generated by the major Scale, and the chords generated by these modes are not used as often. The modes of the Harmonic Minor scale are: Harmonic Minor Locrian nat.6 Ionian #5 Dorian #4 Phrygian Dominant Lydian #2 Diminished