Modes of Harmonic Minor

Harmonic minor (1-2-b3-4-5-b6-7) raises the 7th degree of natural minor to create a leading tone. The augmented 2nd between the b6 and natural 7 gives the entire scale family an exotic, classical character.

1. Harmonic Minor

Formula: 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Character: Dark and exotic. The augmented 2nd (b6 to 7) is immediately recognizable. Use: Over minor-major 7th chords in classical contexts. The V7 chord in minor keys comes from this scale. Essential for classical minor key harmony.

2. Locrian #6

Formula: 1-b2-b3-4-b5-6-b7 Character: Locrian with a brighter 6th. Slightly less dark than standard Locrian. Use: Over half-diminished chords where a natural 6th is desired. Less common than Locrian #2 from melodic minor.

3. Ionian #5 (Augmented Major)

Formula: 1-2-3-4-#5-6-7 Character: Major with an unsettled #5. Bright but with an augmented twist. Use: Over Maj7#5 chords. Has a more classical sound than Lydian Augmented from melodic minor.

4. Dorian #4

Formula: 1-2-b3-#4-5-6-b7 Character: Dorian with an exotic #4. Combines minor quality with a Lydian-like raised 4th. Use: Over minor 7th chords when you want an exotic, raised-4th color. Creates a Romanian folk music quality.

5. Phrygian Dominant

Formula: 1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7 Character: The "Spanish" scale. A dominant sound with Phrygian darkness. Use: Over dominant chords resolving to minor (V7 in minor keys). Extremely common in flamenco, Middle Eastern music, klezmer, and surf rock. The major 3rd + b2 combination is unique and instantly identifiable.

6. Lydian #2

Formula: 1-#2-3-#4-5-6-7 Character: Very bright and exotic. The #2 adds an augmented 2nd from the root. Use: Over Maj7#11 chords when a more exotic color is desired. Less common but beautiful for composition.

7. Ultra Locrian (Altered Diminished)

Formula: 1-b2-b3-b4-b5-b6-bb7 Character: Maximally dark. A diminished scale with even more flattened degrees. Use: Over diminished 7th chords. The bb7 (enharmonically a 6th) is the defining feature. Rare in practice but completes the family.

The Harmonic Minor Sound

What unifies all these modes is the augmented 2nd interval that appears somewhere in each scale. This interval — three half steps between adjacent scale degrees — gives the entire harmonic minor family its characteristic exotic, classical quality.