Harmonic minor scale

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The harmonic minor scale (or Aeolian ♮7 scale) is a musical scale derived from the natural minor scale, with the minor seventh degree raised by one semitone to a major seventh, creating an augmented second between the sixth and seventh degrees. Thus, a harmonic minor scale is represented by the following notation: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7, 8 A harmonic minor scale can be built by lowering the 3rd and 6th degrees of the parallel major scale by one semitone. Because of this construction, the 7th degree of the harmonic minor scale functions as a leading tone to the tonic because it is a semitone lower than the tonic, rather than a whole tone lower than the tonic as it is in natural minor scales. The intervals between the notes of a harmonic minor scale follow the sequence below: whole, half, whole, whole, half, augmented second, half While it evolved primarily as a basis for chords, the harmonic minor with its augmented second is sometimes used melodically. Instances can be found in Mozart...

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