Fretboard fluency

The Harmonic Minor scale consists of the formula: R-2- b 3-4-5- b 6-7, and can be visualised as a Natural Minor scale with a Major 7th degree.

Natural Minor scale: R-2- b 3-4-5- b 6- b 7.

Harmonic Minor scale: R-2- b 3-4-5- b 6-7.

Over the course of the series, we’ve looked at the five Harmonic Minor shapes based around the CAGED system, as well as the harmonised scale which consists of a family of seven diatonic chords, arpeggios and modes. More recently, we’ve been focusing on the fifth and most commonly used mode – Phrygian Dominant: R- b 2-3-4-5- b 6- b 7.

This scale is commonly applied over V7 chords in Minor progressions as a means of heightening tension before resolving back to the tonic I Minor chord a 4th higher (or 5th lower). In last month’s lesson, we started a two-part mini series on the Minor II-V-I progression where we looked at some arpeggio-based approaches including an introduction to the V7 b 9 sound.

This month, we’ll conclude our Harmonic Minor study with the second