5 The Harmonic Minor and Jazz Minor Scales
Once familiar with the natural minor scale, we can focus on the last two scales we will be discussing: the harmonic minor scale and the jazz minor scale.
The harmonic minor scale has all the same notes as the natural minor EXCEPT the 7th. When compared to natural minor, the seventh note has been raised.
When you look at the scales written on the staff (see “Minor Scales” in Introduction to Music Theory and Rudiments for more details), you may notice that the seventh note on C natural minor has a flat symbol beside it, whereas the C harmonic minor scale does not—this reflects the raised 7th on harmonic minor when compared to natural minor. When you look at the image below, which shows us C jazz minor (sometimes also called C melodic minor ascending), you’ll notice there are no flats on both the sixth and seventh notes.
While comparing these scales to each other is valuable, another method for hearing and singing/humming these scales is to compare them to major.
Video 5.1 Scales. [Video transcript – See Appendix B 5.1]
Listen to the major scale audio above, try to sing/hum along. Then, move to the audio examples below; can you hear the differences? All three of the scales below have the third note lowered—that is, what makes them minor. As discussed in the video, the nuances between the three types of minor scales are found on the sixth and seventh notes.
Use the Record button below and try to sing a natural, harmonic, and jazz minor scale. Listen back, can you hear the differences between them reflected in your humming/singing?
