Tastes of Harmonic Major Lesson

Tastes of Harmonic Major

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  • HEY GMC!

    Welcome to my new lesson where we take a look at a fantastic scale called the Harmonic Major. You may of come across the Harmonic major scale before but this is the Harmonic major, a very different scale. It is often referred to as a 'Synthetic Scale' which is a scale that is built by taking a normal scale (in this case major) and altering one of the degrees. In the harmonic major the 6th degree of the scale is flattened (b6) to become a minor 6. This creates the ionian b6 scale or Harmonic major. The sound this creates over a major key chord progression is really fun and adds a dark tension that you'll wonder how you played without it before.

    I've put together a piece that focuses on a C major chord progression in the Gypsy Jazz style, in this context you can see how the tension is really subtle but adds some real colour to an otherwise upbeat happy sounding piece.

    KEY : C Major, C Harmonic Major
    TIME: 4/4
    TEMPO: 215BPM

    GEAR:
    Gitane (saga) manouche guitar
    savarez argentine gypsy jazz strings gauge 12
    Wegen Picks



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