Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

MicroLesson: 104 – 1 Note Can Give you the Harmonic Minor Sound

Description

In this MicroLesson (ML104), you’ll learn how to play (and hear) the harmonic minor scale when improvising lead in a minor key. 1 note can make all the difference!

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

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Comments

  2. Mike R says

    I really like this lesson. I have been doing something similar with the natural minor scale so now I can throw in this extra note. Also like the the way you were displaying the melody on the moving staff. Thanks for always trying to improve what you give us. It’s helping me a lot. This harmonic minor sound is pretty awesome. You have a way of making a little, sound like a lot and look easy at the same time.

  3. JoLa says

    Brian, this is wonderful! I love the not too much substance but rather a concept to work on and this microlesson is a good example. Actually it was more like a mini lesson, shorter than EP but still longer than most microlessons, haha! 😆 Learning and digesting new concepts takes a long time and I truly believe that content with a little bit LESS information is actually more beneficial for us learners and is more appealing to dive into. After all, we still have the VAST library you have already created and put out there.

    • Norbert says

      “After all, we still have the VAST library you have already created and put out there.”

      Hi, JoLa,

      can you please tell me, where I might find this libary? Is there a link?

      Thanks in advance:

      Norbert

  8. Ben D says

    I agree with joLa that your vast library is a major part of why I love your lessons. I can’t always keep up with all the content in each lesson and I always want to play everything you give us. I believe learning is circular and coming back to your well organized library is perfect for that. I am grateful that I found your lessons on line. Thank you for what you do.

  9. Joe S says

    Nice lesson Brian. I think this is going to be one of those lessons in which l get the basic concept without to much work and will spend countless hours trying to master the finer points! Thanks for all the work you put into these lessons.

  10. Scott C says

    Hey there Brian,

    Longtime student and fan- wondering if you are going to NAMM this month- I just saw it’s in Anaheim which is only a couple hours away- I thought about going and checking it out- if you’re there I’d love to get some Active Melody merch and an autograph!
    Scott

    • Brian says

      hah – man i’d hate to sign something and devalue it! unfortunately i’m not headed to NAMM this year… it always sneaks up on me and I forget to make plans. i wish they’d do it in March

  12. John F says

    I love waking up on a Saturday morning to try your new lessons. I bought an Airstep play over Christmas and find it very useful. if i want to slow down or rewind a part of the lesson. I see you are aware of it.

  14. Georg B says

    Hello Brian,
    What a perfect way to start the new year! I love your new format. I can only speak for myself, but this amount of input is absolutely enough to keep me wonderfully busy for more than a week. Also, your music sounds super cool. It reminded me of St. James Infirmary, which you play in ep261. I’ve always wanted to be able to play and understand something like that.
    Thank you very much,
    Georg

  15. Kevin S says

    Hey Brian, Nice lesson. I love that you don’t stand pat and get into a rut. Over the years I’ve seen the changes you’ve implemented and I’ve tried to keep pace. You are catering to an audience with a wide range of interests and skill levels and you seem to consistantly lay something down for all of us. I know my playing has grown along with my understanding of music, thanks for putting in the effort.

  17. T-Bish says

    Definite thumbs up on the new format. We all learn in different ways, and how you learned more by simply noodling around with some concepts probably relates to us all. The format is digestible and allows more time for more personal exploration.

    Not going over every note forces us to listen more. In other words, tabs don’t always determine the mood or intended sound. This format causes you to play using the tab but playback the video to understand the emotion or the sounds you create connecting the notes together. BTW, pretty cool new tab feature at the end of the first video.

  18. Mark C says

    I first learned about the harmonic minor in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps .” It’s in A minor, and over the E, they play the major seventh. Clapton uses it in his some of his licks. Thank you for an excellent lesson. Digestible and not overwhelming!

  19. Daniel H says

    At last, drinking from a garden hose rather than a fire hose! Great lesson format because it less volume and more focused… not that the EP’s are bad, some are just overwhelming with so many ideas. It is tempting to fall into the trap of “I have to memorize this”. I’m glad to hear you support the idea of noodling with the ideas presented in a mini lesson. That is much better way to learn … for me anyway. Thumbs up on this teaching/learning approach!

  22. Harold V says

    Very Nice. Your lessons always seem to come at the right time. I have always been confused about the harmonic minor scale. Yes, this was a light bulb moment for me. Keep up the good work. I like the Micro lessons it matches my learning style. Short and simple.

  25. Ralph P. says

    I’ve always liked that sound. Sounds very “Spanish” to me. I’ve always thought of it, as you explained, as just that one note, and never bothered to learn the whole scale pattern. That one note can add a lot of flavor to a minor key song and it’s very easy to implement. Good explanation and examples.

    Ralph

  26. michael f says

    Not quite understanding the new format. So you reroute us to ML104 but then identify it as EP 602. I think this is new content right? What happened to the “old” ML 104. Was that a lesson on the harmonic minor as well? Did this lesson replace ML 104? Where is the old ML 104?

      • michael f says

        Thanks for replying. “EP 602” appears on the screen after being rerouted to “ML 104”. I guess that is what confused me.

        I marvel at the depth and length of your EP lessons sometimes 24 bars long, a number of licks that you always try to put in context. So I like your returning to specific learning goals in greater detail. That previous EP lesson (EP592??) where you go over all the minor scales included the harmonic minor. This lesson builds on that one impressively especially your point about how to find the major 7 note which is one fret below the root. That definitely opens up the five positions in CAGED when improvising if you know here the root is. Also the harmonic minor scale explains how the 5 chord can be either major or minor. Because of that major 7 note, playing that chord works as the turnaround chord in a minor blues. It also works as a minor chord when improvising because the flat 7 note is in key.
        Thanks for clarifying that ML 104 is new content and never existed under the old system when you would sometimes create micro lessons. Keep referring to why you are going into greater depth in your micro lessons by referring to the vast material you created in your EP lessons.
        I think this will be my sixth year with Active Melody. Thank you

  28. Robert R says

    I like this format. As an example, hearing your thought process and how you connect the notes of the fill ins to the chords helps. We don’t need more rote memorization, that’s all over You Tube.
    You are giving us tools to be better players

  29. Patrick J. G says

    This year’s first 2 lessons have been awesome. Simple to play but with so much information. It gives me time to think about the notes and cords and learn, not just play. I was a little apprehensive when you said you were changing up the format, cause I’m a routine type person but this works for me. At times I have thought where do we go from here after all the lessons you have taught, but I see there’s a lot more out there.

  30. Michael W says

    Brian, I’ve been a member for several years. I always come away with new ideas and something that will find it’s way into my vocabulary. The way I describe your teaching method to my less committed friends is that you teach ideas and the theory follows. Thank you for shrinking the fretboard for me.

  36. Gary K says

    Brian, this was a good lesson. Here’s how it could have been even better. Last week you taught us how to play major and minor harmonies on the 2nd and 4th strings. Why not thread some of those two string harmonies into this week’s composition? That way we could remember and practice what we learned last week as we apply a new bit of information using the harmonic minor scale.

    I will try to work this out on my own, of course. But I might have just missed the connection and forgotten about last week.

    It helps me when lessons are cumulative and build on each other.

    Many thanks. I think you are on the right track with simplifying your content. Gary

  38. klox says

    I am a little confused. Based on the definition of Harmonic Minor it seems its best fit use would be against the (major) V chord B. Apart from playing the ( major) B chord itself you chose to use the B minor 3rd note ( b7 of Em) in bars 7 and 15. In the rest of the tune melody you only use the Harmonic Minor “ one note” in bars 1 and 9. So I am a bit unclear as to how Harmonic Minor is best used, am I missing something ?

  39. Norbert says

    Hi Folks, Dear Brian

    I really like ML104 and it takes me a lot further in terms of content. As always, it’s helpful for me to find other episodes with variations on a particular theme and look at them from different perspectives. In my opinion, episode 527 (and 564!?) particularly fits the main theme of ML104 (“Notes to land on”).

    Can anyone remember other episodes or micro lessons that directly address the topic of “Notes to land on”?

    Thanks in advance for any tips

    and

    (again) a big “thank you” to Brian. For more than eleven years you have been the most interesting, inspiring and well-organized guitar teacher I ´ve ever had.

    Norbert

    P.S.

    Can anyone please tell me, where I might find the VAST libary? Is there a link?

  41. Matthew N says

    I agree with Daniel H comment. i feel like i am gonna learn more by completing the micro lesson format rather than the longer ones (i love all the lessons of course..)
    So i am loving the shorter lesson approach !

  43. Lance J says

    PS I like this format. Learning key points rather than every note works for me.

    I also find helpful your explanations of how you’ve acquired these skills, like at the end of part two here. When you mention the reality of how you actually developed skills, and in other videos the reality of how you came up with tunes, is very helpful.

    Lastly, your lessons are great. I really have developed more in the last couple of months than I have in years prior to finding your website.

  45. Dan B says

    Hi Brian,

    I think the format is great! Particularly for players like myself who have followed a lot of your in-depth lessons and already have an understanding of the scales and CAGED. You capture it well as the ‘tools to whittle’ away with.

    I’m also a fan of how you repeat and reinforce theory or concepts – I hope you’re not bored of doing so, as this is so useful – those ‘lightbulb’ moments as you say.

    What can definitely drop away for me is the note by note description – the TAB on screen and seeing you play is enough for me.

    Respect as always.

  46. Jeff H says

    Another Great lesson Brian. The composition is just beautiful. I have always liked the Micro lessons, easier to digest, I go back over them from time to time, as with many of your lessons. Always good to see Jola’s comments, I know she loves the Minor keys, and so do I, and her videos are an inspiration to us all as well. Keep up the good work Brian.

  48. Mike C says

    Always learn a tremendous amount from your lessons. Watching you on this Harmonic Scale helps with my listening. But it is a real stretch given where I am in my progress. Looking forward to the second part.

  52. Richard C says

    I listened to this today and really liked the somewhat haunting sound. I worked oaths with my guitar teacher this evening playing close attention to the fingering. A lot of this is in a 5 note cluster. DIdn’t need to move my hand very far and no barring!!!

  55. David P says

    Love it. I am a bluegrass player of 40 years and we typically learn by imitation. I need to understand a bit of theory in order to improvise better- and these practical applications are perfect for me. Your layout is awesome as well!

  56. jeanlouis70 says

    thx for everything you do Brian.
    I like those kind of lessons, give me a couple of cords for frame work and a couple of riffs for ideas.
    Let me know where to land on the solo and I am happy.
    I can take it from there…. 😉 or so I think 🙂
    that’s my input.
    less theory more playing ideas and vibes.
    merci love the site for years.

  57. Pierre L says

    I’m surprised by this, but after 3 days, I can say I like the shorter, simpler lesson. I can play the whole piece by memory already (albeit at a slower tempo) and I don’t think that’s happened before. It’s a good feeling. I have more time to try improvising with the harmonic minor scale. However, I find this part a little difficult without a backing track. This is just a thought, but when you have a short lesson like this, a very simple backing track could be useful for optional homework. 🙂

    Last week’s EP601 was also a very digestible lesson focusing mainly on one concept, harmonies on the B and D strings. The backing track minus guitar was useful for improvising.

    • Henry G says

      Brian, as ever thanks and much praise to you for your dedication to expanding your teaching and audio visual and keyboard navigational techniques and options. You are on the right path, for sure!

    • Mike H says

      I give this 💡💡💡💡.. I’ve noticed that somewhat dissonant note while screwing up my pentatonic scale patterns but didn’t know it had a name nor, how to use it purposely.

  64. Gunnar B says

    Thanks for another great lesson, Brian!
    As you point out, both the melodic minor and the harmonic minor scale contain a raised 7th degree, in contrast to the natural minor. What is so special with the harmonic minor is the tone-and-a-half jump between the flat 6 and the raised 7th degree, and this is what gives the scale its somewhat exotic or flamenco-like character. A good example of this is Santana’s composition El Farol. The song is in A minor and the short guitar riff in the beginning illustrates the flavour of the harmonic minor very clearly. For the rest of the song the harmonic minor as well as other scales are used seamlessly to create variation and tension.

  66. Mike H says

    (originally posted this in wrong place, oops)
    I give this 💡💡💡💡.. I’ve noticed that somewhat dissonant note while screwing up my pentatonic scale patterns but didn’t know it had a name nor, how to use it purposely.

  69. Thomas G says

    Well, I hope this isn’t the end of the longer lessons, as some people are suggesting.
    The lightbulb for me in this harmonic minor scale and composition, is that we’re playing all around the Em chord at the third fret, the E at the fifth and the Em at the7th, as well as the open Em. It feels good to have the scale anchored that way, even though I don’t yet know the entire scale shapes at each of the positions.

  70. Larry Jay says

    Thank you Brian. This lesson is a real eye opener for me. Harmonic minor one was of those mysterious scales for me because the books i’ve gone through make it so difficult. Now with your explanation, it is not so mysterious anymore and, I can mix it up with the pentatonic scale.

    Your format is great and your teaching style is very effective.

    Gracias, y feliz ano nuevo.

    Larry

  74. Paul T says

    Thanks for the new lesson, Brian. I love the way you combine rhythm and lead in so many of your compositions. And I like the length of the mini-lessons. I enjoy learning the longer pieces too, but it’s nice to explore one or two concepts and then just see where I can take these ideas on my own. Cheers. Paul

  77. steve h says

    Thanks for the lesson. Been a subscriber for a while now and these simpler ‘micro’ lessons are helpful. I know I am below many others in my understanding, so these simpler and shorter pieces allow me apply my basic understanding of caged and triads to the fretboard putting theory to practice. Appreciate the musical quality of each lesson! Best.

  78. Mike C says

    I hate to be a broken record, but this lesson is terrific. It has challenged me with something that is out of my comfort zone but I believe I can do this. Love the way you take the to show the fingering. Just the right length.

  83. John G says

    Thanks Brian, this was a greta lesson. I’ll be sure to use it. Loved the gypsy jazz tone. Can I check-in with you, is the Eb the flat 7th? I thought I heard you refer to a C# and mentioned a flat 3rd.

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