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    The Harmonic Minor scale is scale that we have found to be interesting, More interesting is the naming of it. The 'common' theory on this scale is that the '3rd' and '6th' are 'flattened (b) (1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7) and our theory is that the '5th' is 'sharpened (#)' (1 2 3 4 5# 6 7) - We always use real examples that use actual tones which is what we do here:

'Common regurgitated Theory'  -  C harmonic minor The natural minor for this key is 'C' but the root of the key is Eb...
1	2	3b	4	5	6b	7
C	D	Eb	F	G	Ab	B
To restore this to the key of "C" you would move the red dotted tones up one fret... (the white dot is the root)

   We would call the above example an "Eb Augmented" scale which would fall in the Key of Eb and use the 1 2 3 4 5# 6 7, The 'theory' above implies that the 'C' is the 'root' when our theory shows that a more dominating 'root' is in fact the 'Eb'.

'Guitarweek Theory'  -  Eb major scale (Augmented) This can also be called 'C harmonic minor'
1	2	3	4	5#	6	7
Eb	F	G	Ab	B	C	D
To restore this to the key of "Eb" you would move all the red dotted tones back one fret... (the white dot is the root)

   When our theory is used then you will find an augmented chord at the front, The only thing we have done is shuffled all the tones around. It's sort of confusing when you look outside of the key of C so lets apply our theory to the Key of C. Our theory is the harmonic minor scale is (1 2 3 4 5# 6 7) so in the Key of C you would have...

'Guitarweek Theory'  -  C (Augmented) This is commonly called the 'A harmonic minor'
1	2	3	4	5#	6	7
C	D	E	F	G#	A	B
To restore this to the key of "C" you would move all the red dotted tones back one fret... (the white dot is the root)
this is aka: 'A' harmonic minor

   The "C augmented" scale shown above fits right in between the "G Mixolydian" and the "A Aeolian" mode which are in the key of C. There are two ways you can come up with the pattern shown above, Lets compare the traditional and our way side by side... You can use our Octaves worksheet to see the formula in action by doing the following:

Guitarweek: Start with the Key of C and change the "G" to "G#"...
Old School: Start with the Key of A and change the "Gb to F" and change "Db to C"...  

   NOTE: The 'harmonic minor' scale is indeed a weird and cool scale, Our theory shows that there are two 'formulas' that you can use to come up with the exact same scale, We think you should study the 1 2 3 4 5# 6 7 instead of 1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7...

Check out our Harmonic Minor Worksheet...
(See the "A Harmonic Minor" scale on our virtual piano)...