Modes Of The Harmonic Minor Scale

The harmonic minor scale has some really interesting modes but they are rarely used or heard. The two most important modes of this scale are the classical sounding harmonic minor and the eastern sounding phrygian dominant scale.

If you’ve ever listened to anything by Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen then you will have a pretty good idea what this scale sounds like. It also crops up frequently in classical music.

Lets look at the chords of the harmonic minor scale. We can see that they are more interesting and unusual than the standard major scale chords. Note the more harmonically rich augmented and diminished type sounds.

The Harmonic minor scale

The harmonic minor scale is a really nice scale with some interesting and exotic modes. You don’t often hear about the other modes of this scale but the harmonic minor and phrygian dominant modes are quite common in classical and rock music. The harmonic minor scale is made up of the intervals

1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7

In the key of C this translates as

C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B

Make sure you learn the chords of this scale as they can be really useful when composing

The chords of the C harmonic minor scale are

Cmin/maj7, Dm7b5, Ebmaj7#5, Fm7, G7b9, Abmaj7, Bdim7

The Locrian natural 6 mode

This dark sounding second mode is made up of the intervals

1, b2, b3, 4, b5, 6, b7

In the key of C this translates as

C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, A, Bb

The Ionian #5 mode

The third mode of the harmonic minor scale is a really nice augmented type sound for playing over Maj7#5 chords and is made up of the intervals

1, 2, 3, 4, #5, 6, 7

In the key of C this translates as

C, D, E, F, G#, A, B

The Dorian #4 mode

The fourth mode of the harmonic minor is made up of the intervals

1, 2, b3, #4, 5 ,6, b7

In the key of C this translates as

C, D, Eb, F#, F, A, Bb

The Phrygian dominant mode

The phrygian dominant mode is a really useful scale for playing over dominant chords particularly a 7b9 chord. It has a really nice exotic sound and it is made up of the intervals

1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7

In the key of C this translates as

C, Db, E, F, G, Ab, Bb

The Lydian #2 mode

This a really interesting and dreamy sounding mode which is best used over a vamp to really bring out the sound. It can be used over maj7 chords and is made up of the intervals

1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7

In the key of C this translates as

C, D#, E, F#, G, A, B

The Locrian bb7 mode

This dark sounding mode is very unusual and not used very often. It is made up of the intervals

1, b2, b3, 4, b5, b6, bb7

In the key of C this translates as

C, Db, Eb F, Gb, Ab, A

See if you can make use of these unusual scales. The first and fifth modes of this scale are really useful to know and the other modes can be used to create some interesting sounds for those of you willing to experiment with them. Have fun and good luck.