Harmonic Minor Scale

"Harmonic Minor Scale", a seven-note musical scale employed in Western classical and contemporary music, distinguishes itself from the natural minor scale by a crucial alteration: the raising of its seventh note by a half step. This adjustment yields a distinctive and recognizable sonic quality often associated with drama or exoticism.

The harmonic minor scale is sung as "La-Ti-Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Si(#)-La".

The harmonic minor scale deviates from this pattern by elevating the seventh note by a half step, creating a unique interval known as an augmented second or minor third. This shifts the harmonic minor scale's pattern to whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, augmented second, half step. This alteration introduces a fresh and distinct interval between the sixth and seventh notes, bestowing the scale with its characteristic sonic hue.

The augmented seventh note in the harmonic minor scale exerts a profound influence on the harmony and chord progressions that stem from the scale. In the realm of traditional harmony, this raised seventh note enables the construction of a major V chord (commonly termed the dominant chord) when utilizing the harmonic minor scale's notes. This chord progression furnishes a powerful sense of tension and resolution, contributing to the scale's dramatic quality.

The harmonic minor scale finds its place in compositions seeking to evoke drama, tension, or exotic flair. Its usage spans multiple genres, including classical, folk, and world music. Musicians and composers employ the harmonic minor scale to imbue their works with distinct emotional and tonal shades.