harmonic minor
Minor with sharpening
A harmonic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale with a raised seventh degree, creating a distinctive interval of three semitones between the sixth and seventh notes.
This alteration produces the leading tone that pulls toward the tonic, giving the scale its characteristic tension and exotic, slightly Eastern sound.
The harmonic minor is essential in classical and jazz harmony: The piece modulates through A harmonic minor.
- classical musicWestern orchestral tradition
- klezmerTraditional Ashkenazi folk music
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- flamencoRhythmic Spanish dance style
- leading toneScale's penultimate degree
gypsy jazz · blues scale · Middle Eastern music · cadences · tango · modulation · music theory · Indian classical music · half step · chromatic scale · counterpoint · classical guitar
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