Playing Harmonic Minor Scales

A harmonic minor scale consists of seven notes (1 2 m3 4 5 m6 M7) which are separated from each other by the following intervals: 1-1/2-1-1-1/2-1½-1/2 (Ex. in C: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B). It can be transposed into all other keys with the root as point of reference. A harmonic minor scale (which is just a natural minor with a major seventh) is crucial for playing solos and improvisations on chord changes in minor keys. This is the case in many different musical styles such as pop, rock, jazz, and Latin American music. This course gives you the opportunity first to take a look at the harmonic minor scales on video; then to study them with three practical exercises by changing keys and combining in various ways certain note groups, all the while referring to the corresponding recordings; and lastly to play them along to backing tracks by means of seven licks.