{"id":68,"date":"2025-06-16T14:02:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T18:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/?post_type=chapter&p=68"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:26:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T15:26:41","slug":"the-harmonic-minor-and-jazz-minor-scales","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/chapter\/the-harmonic-minor-and-jazz-minor-scales\/","title":{"raw":"The Harmonic Minor and Jazz Minor Scales","rendered":"The Harmonic Minor and Jazz Minor Scales"},"content":{"raw":"Once familiar with the natural minor scale, we can focus on the last two scales we will be discussing: the harmonic minor scale<\/em>\u00a0and the jazz minor<\/em> scale<\/em>.\r\n\r\nThe 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.<\/a><\/a>\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Minor-Scale-S1.wav\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_179\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"996\"]\"C Figure 5.1 C natural minor scale. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.1<\/a>][\/caption][audio wav=\"https:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Harmonic-Minor-Scale-S1.wav\"][\/audio]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_178\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1003\"]\"Harmonic Figure 5.2 C harmonic minor. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.2<\/a>][\/caption]When you look at the scales written on the staff (see \"Minor Scales\" in Introduction to Music Theory and Rudiments<\/em> for more details<\/a>), 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\u2014this 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\u2019ll notice there are no flats on both the sixth and seventh notes.<\/a> <\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Jazz-Minor-Scale-S1.wav\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_177\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1030\"]\"C Figure 5.3 C jazz minor scale. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.3<\/a>][\/caption]\r\n

While comparing these scales to each other is valuable, another method for hearing and singing\/humming these scales is to compare them to major.<\/a><\/p>\r\nhttps:\/\/streaming.macewan.ca\/media\/Scales\/1_91sc0q6g\r\n

Video 5.1 Scales. [Video transcript \u2013 See Appendix B 5.1<\/a>]<\/p>\r\nLi<\/span>sten 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\u2014that 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. <\/span>\r\n\r\nUse 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?\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"10\"]","rendered":"

Once familiar with the natural minor scale, we can focus on the last two scales we will be discussing: the harmonic minor scale<\/em>\u00a0and the jazz minor<\/em> scale<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n


\nhttps:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Minor-Scale-S1.wav<\/a><\/audio><\/p>\n

\"C
Figure 5.1 C natural minor scale. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.1<\/a>]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

https:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Harmonic-Minor-Scale-S1.wav<\/a><\/audio><\/p>\n

\"Harmonic
Figure 5.2 C harmonic minor. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.2<\/a>]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you look at the scales written on the staff (see “Minor Scales” in Introduction to Music Theory and Rudiments<\/em> for more details<\/a>), 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\u2014this 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\u2019ll notice there are no flats on both the sixth and seventh notes.<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/openbooks.macewan.ca\/introtoeartraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2025\/08\/C-Jazz-Minor-Scale-S1.wav<\/a><\/audio><\/p>\n

\"C
Figure 5.3 C jazz minor scale. [Image description \u2013 See Appendix C Figure 5.3<\/a>]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While comparing these scales to each other is valuable, another method for hearing and singing\/humming these scales is to compare them to major.<\/a><\/p>\n