This Scale Sounds SO GOOD: The Harmonic MAJOR Scale

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  • čas přidán 6. 12. 2020
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    This scale should be more famous.
    Or better... this scale is famous, thanks to its 'sexy' name. I mean, it's called the "harmonic major" scale - a far cry from 'mathematical formulas' like "dorian #4" or "locrian natural 2", right?
    No, being famous is not the problem. The problem is: this scale deserves to be used more.
    Because it drips with feeling and drama.
    I mean, a scale that sounds this way when I play a standard 1-4-5 progression on it would deserve to be used in top 40 songs and international hits every other week.
    But no.
    Let's write another song with the same old scales, because 'the public does not like anything new'.
    No, let's just give them 'more of the same but different'.
    (The first pop songwriter or producer who puts their hands on this scale and who takes it seriously will make millions)
    So here's what we are going to do - because I know you are super-busy and have no time, and this is a busy period and you are so tired that your attention span is shorter than a squirrel's.
    Just click on the link below, and go straight to these two examples: the first at 3:47 and the second at 4:45.
    If you agree with me that these chord progressions sound great and that there is potential there... then watch the rest of the video to see how I wrote them.
    Otherwise, go ahead with your day, and I'll see you next week.
    Deal?
    P.S. If you write a pop song with this scale... and it becomes the next big hit... don't forget where it came from! ;-)
    If you like this video, share, like, comment & don't forget to subscribe for more content!
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    Website: musictheoryforguitar.com
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Komentáře • 128

  • @noahorlowski3328
    @noahorlowski3328 Před 3 lety +89

    "with a little abuse of notation" is a concept I wish more people would support

    • @Wayne_Robinson
      @Wayne_Robinson Před 3 lety +3

      Notation is a very useful tool but it's not the music!

    • @manwithaplan8543
      @manwithaplan8543 Před 2 lety +1

      People forget a rose is a still a rose by any other name 😩 #shakespearewouldabusenotation

  • @carbonmonoxide5052
    @carbonmonoxide5052 Před 3 lety +8

    The Sad Cafe by the Eagles uses this mode if anyone wanted an example.

  • @kenzuercher7497
    @kenzuercher7497 Před 3 lety +18

    Since some of us learned the Harmonic Minor scale first, The Harmonic Major is the same but with the major third. Just one note different. makes it easier to find from a known pattern. Melodic Minor is also a major scale with the third flatted. Just another way to sort all of this out. Great explanation in the video!

    • @gabrielmahutasoit8953
      @gabrielmahutasoit8953 Před rokem

      Unfortunately, the key signature theory doesn't allow that simplification. Like, both A harmonic minor and A melodic minor uses the key sign of Am/C maj, and A harm. major uses A maj key sign. Imagine how many times you have to add the accidentals.

  • @markvb305
    @markvb305 Před 3 lety +16

    5:10 Challenge accepted!
    A, A+Δ, Dm/A, A+Δsus4, AΔ

  • @JTuaim
    @JTuaim Před 3 lety +15

    This really adds a lot of melodic possibilities.

  • @sunkintree
    @sunkintree Před 2 lety +3

    You do a major service for people who might otherwise overlook these scales because not many people seem to talk about them

  • @Mohammed8778
    @Mohammed8778 Před 3 lety +32

    Would've loved to have a sound example for the scale in the beginning. nice video tho

    • @Aurora-oe2qp
      @Aurora-oe2qp Před 3 lety

      If I'm not mistaken, it's the scale from Miserlou, most famously covered by Dick Dale and his Deltones. But yeah, it would be nice with an audio example of the scale in the beginning
      Edit: Wait, never mind, I'm fairly certain that the scale from Miserlou is double harmonic major (major b2 b6).

    • @MusicTheoryForGuitar
      @MusicTheoryForGuitar  Před 3 lety +1

      @@Aurora-oe2qp The Miserlou scale is this one: czcams.com/video/_tUqU0gNziE/video.html

  • @joebermuda6452
    @joebermuda6452 Před rokem +1

    This scale sounds beautiful for jazz

  • @chiju
    @chiju Před 3 lety +10

    Whenever I see that portrait of JS Bach, I will always imagine the artist was lecturing him for using augmented second intervals in his melodies.

  • @frenchiesfrankieandhenry
    @frenchiesfrankieandhenry Před 3 lety +1

    Tommaso! Thanks for the clinic invite, Sir! Haven't had a chance to work on dorian b2 solo, as I just got married and have been extremely busy.
    Always look forward to Mondays now. You're Closing in on 200k subs, which is awesome. This channel should hopefully reach the level subs of Rick Beato's channel. You really are a fantastic teacher, my friend.
    As always, thanks for the fun, always informative, inspirational videos.

  • @TheAtheistworld
    @TheAtheistworld Před rokem +1

    Major with a supergap!! Cool vid. Thnx

  • @minstorm
    @minstorm Před 3 lety +32

    If I can recommend something: in the start of the video rather than just saying the notes. Also play the scale up and down once or twice to let the listeners get a feel for it

    • @peterkeys1105
      @peterkeys1105 Před 3 lety +1

      Yeah that's literally what I was looking for lol

    • @poison_corpse3140
      @poison_corpse3140 Před rokem +1

      You can find the notes he has on the white board on the neck of your guitar and play the scale up and down, what I'm about to do.
      Or just play the major scale as you know it and flatten the 6th degree.
      Hope this helps.

  • @scottblair8261
    @scottblair8261 Před 3 lety +5

    I lost it at the flying bleep, made me laugh very hard. Great video as per usual.

  • @aylbdrmadison1051
    @aylbdrmadison1051 Před 3 lety +5

    Thanks again Tommaso. Always love your videos and look forward to them.
    Until next time; enjoy!

  • @moistness482
    @moistness482 Před 3 lety +2

    This is the nostalgic sounding scale for me

  • @johndoc4483
    @johndoc4483 Před 3 lety +2

    Another great presentation, I cant wait to try this one, its got a real nice vibe !

  • @ArtinSinger
    @ArtinSinger Před 3 lety +3

    Your videos are so great and mind opening 👍

  • @HotRot89
    @HotRot89 Před 3 lety +1

    I like how this gives a little hint behind the scenes about how you create these videos :)

  • @LouisSerieusement
    @LouisSerieusement Před 3 lety +2

    So cool !! I was really looking for your thoughts on this scale and I'm not disapoint at all :o thank you so much !
    Cheers and love from france

  • @johndoc4483
    @johndoc4483 Před 3 lety +1

    I'm going to check out your course, hopefully I can afford it. I need a course I can work with in sections, and wrap up the learning to get all this music outta my head, ty again.

  • @rgsudusky
    @rgsudusky Před 3 lety +2

    Another gem - thanks!

  • @davidbaise5137
    @davidbaise5137 Před 2 měsíci

    You are just scratching the surface with these.

  • @sebastiankreck
    @sebastiankreck Před 3 lety +1

    Cool sounding scale!

  • @anirudhsilai5790
    @anirudhsilai5790 Před 3 lety +1

    I love a spicy augmented 2nd

  • @heybuddyguyfriendpal8281

    4:25 ahhh , ya I got this.!!!

  • @walterleitgeb8484
    @walterleitgeb8484 Před 3 lety

    I wanted to say you are the best theory teacher i have seen.
    I wish we could collaborate.
    Bless you!

  • @maxkelter3561
    @maxkelter3561 Před 3 lety +19

    It sounds like a second semester Calculus Class only for music. Seems interesting but I'm not there yet......

  • @edrdavenport78
    @edrdavenport78 Před 3 lety

    I’ve been thinking about this for two weeks! I was gonna make an instagram post about why the b6 is the best chromatic note in the major scale and harmonic major is a good example.

  • @Pawn936
    @Pawn936 Před 7 měsíci

    5:10 1. A major 2. A major 7 (flat13) 3. D minor 4. G# fully diminished 7th over A 5. A major 7

  • @Winklebott
    @Winklebott Před 3 lety

    Chords at 5:09 are as follows methinks. A - C#/A - (Dm - Dm(flat5) both are inversions with the 5 in the root). And Amaj7

  • @AntHenson
    @AntHenson Před 3 lety +1

    My favourite scale! I deffo think the C# and C#7 should be included in the main list if the B°7 is though...

    • @gabrielmahutasoit8953
      @gabrielmahutasoit8953 Před 2 lety

      Ah, yeah... C# root-scale is Phrygian b4, so it can me minor (1-b3-5/ C#-E-G#) or major (1-b4(=3)-5/C#-F-G#)

  • @tdubasdfg
    @tdubasdfg Před 3 lety

    This is a really cool lesson. Reminds me of Barry Harris' lessons on what he calls the 6th diminished scale. He plays it as an 8 note scale including both the flat 6th and natural 6th scale degrees. When you make chords from this scale you get a really nice sound that goes (in C):
    C6 (or A minor7 in 1st inversion)
    Do7
    Em13 (or A minor7 in 2nd inversion)
    Fo7
    GM13 (or A minor7 in 3rd inversion)
    Am7
    Bo7
    C6
    It has a nice sense of symmetry to it 👍

  • @radiozelaza
    @radiozelaza Před 3 lety +1

    I like to use the fifth mode of Harm Maj as a substitute for Phrygian Dominant

  • @kalamartintanegra
    @kalamartintanegra Před 3 lety +2

    I alway loved that augmented 5th. Now I understand that it is a flatten 6th XD. Anyway, I love theat sound

  • @metaljay2896
    @metaljay2896 Před 3 lety

    5:15
    A , A Major7#5, F Major13/A, Bb7/A, A Major7.
    The last 3 chords mimic a plagal cadence a bit to my ear, or a phrygian cadence

  • @GlennMichaelThompson
    @GlennMichaelThompson Před 3 lety

    Always appreciate your topics and insights. The chords/progression you said to write in the comments ...this is what I would name them at first glance.
    Amaj, C#/A, Dmin/A, D°/A, A major7. Slash chords with Amaj and Amaj7 as starting and finishing points.

  • @Nikoo033
    @Nikoo033 Před 3 lety +4

    That’s how I am going to qualify my mistakes from now on: I am playing a harmonic major scale 😂

  • @christopherenders8153
    @christopherenders8153 Před 3 lety +2

    You missed the great harmonic altered scale on the 3rd scale-degree. It's perfect to play over a dominant chord with the 5th.

  • @MelodyPainterStudio
    @MelodyPainterStudio Před 3 lety +21

    The chords are
    A C#/A Dm/A Ddim/A Amaj7
    Is that right?

    • @dangerkeith3000
      @dangerkeith3000 Před 3 lety +3

      It's a valid way of writing it. All the notes are correct. The 2nd and 4th chords could be written differently, but your naming makes sense with the sound of the progression and is easy to understand. To me, it's the most intuitive written how you did.

  • @saschaz1
    @saschaz1 Před 3 lety +1

    Really appreciate your videos. Now I think in an italian accent when applying your knowledge. 😂

  • @slickwillie3376
    @slickwillie3376 Před měsícem +1

    I was messing around with C harmonic major, and wanted a pentatonic, or maybe a 9th chord arpeggio to use as a pentatonic, and came up with this interesting sound.
    C D E G Ab
    Very haunting methinks...

  • @malcolmjohnston4624
    @malcolmjohnston4624 Před 3 lety

    Thanks again for your insight, I will try to name the chords. Didn't know the name of the scale, I always thought of it as a major tetrachord followed by a minor tetrachord. Ref. William L Fowler ( Berkley) guitar patterns for improvisation. 4X4 tetrachords = 16 modes, with no tritones.

  • @pullmeunder116
    @pullmeunder116 Před 3 lety

    I miss when you used to play the scale straight on guitar. It was really useful in understanding the sound of it!

  • @conquerncam
    @conquerncam Před 3 lety +7

    So early I have no idea what the video is about yet

  • @greymatters6015
    @greymatters6015 Před 3 lety +2

    Woah! That F bomb outta nowhere!😂

  • @noahk.3696
    @noahk.3696 Před 3 lety

    hey man
    i like your videos great work !!!
    ist master of the modes worth it for me as a sayplayer ?

  • @mikecassell8953
    @mikecassell8953 Před 3 lety +5

    This scale is used in the Zelda theme. At least in parts of it.

  • @stevehurl298
    @stevehurl298 Před 3 lety

    Sounds good to you.....

  • @bleedingrevenge12
    @bleedingrevenge12 Před 3 lety +8

    One of my favorite Tigran Hamasyan songs is in the fifth mode of harmonic major: mixolydian flat9. It's called _To Negate_
    I know this because I am trying to learn how to play it on guitar.

  • @Wind-nj5xz
    @Wind-nj5xz Před 3 lety +1

    2:18 What if you don't but you use the lowered 6th a lot in the melody?

  • @hansongnaily
    @hansongnaily Před 2 lety +2

    Sound like radiohead chords!

  • @ProffessorMusic
    @ProffessorMusic Před 3 lety +1

    There could be quite a few answers but in the context you used them it sounds like A, A+ma7, Dmi/A, Dº/A, Ama7.
    I'm actually kind of tempted to say the 3rd and 4th chords are F6 and Fmi6 because it's sounds like the classic McCartney-ish resolution. Does the A bass note mess that up or does the fact that we're pedaling A make it ok?

  • @faprama
    @faprama Před 3 lety

    A, A7+(#5), Asus4 (#5), A7+ sus4 (#5), A7+

  • @lamelamelame8
    @lamelamelame8 Před 3 lety

    I think the chords are: A, A major 7 #5, Dmin/A, D dim/A, A maj 7.

  • @daneoduran2674
    @daneoduran2674 Před 3 lety

    Let's name the chords: I'd call them: (1: A major) - (2: A maj 7 aug 5) - ( 3: A6 maj add 9) - (4: A maj 7 add 6 sus 4) and (5: A maj 7). Thanks for this fab video as always Tommaso. How lovely of you to think of singers when considering melodies. However, we can always cheat using pitch correction in the DAW. Could yield interesting results.

  • @byronofcalgary6985
    @byronofcalgary6985 Před 3 lety

    is there a starting point on a keyboard that would give these intervals on white keys aka whole notes ? ? it would make it easier to find the chord components knowing they're also all white keys = whole notes - - thx

  • @gabrielhededal270
    @gabrielhededal270 Před 3 lety +1

    Any songs written in this scale?

  • @travistoole
    @travistoole Před 3 lety +3

    So after I watched that Playlist you sent me, my guitar fell and the headstock broke off my razorback.
    Im gonna try to fix it.

  • @barryvisoc6851
    @barryvisoc6851 Před 3 lety +2

    Allan Holdsworth's favorite Scale.starts on the 4th mode,Lydian b3rd.

    • @user-pm2xj9st6f
      @user-pm2xj9st6f Před dnem

      Holdsworth would think of it as melodic minor #4. He called it Lydian Diminished. Alot of jazz guys followed him on that. It's does have a "hidden" dim7 on the root chord. 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 7 (1 b3 b5 bb7)
      I like to think of it as Dorian #4 maj7
      and Use it as a minor scale. You can use lydian b3 ascending and Dorian #4 descending. (OR descend dorian) that way you have the leading tone (major 7th) ascending. The #4 is a great leading tone to the 5th also when ascending.
      My favorite mode of harmonic major is mode 3 Phrygian b4.
      It is very similar to phrygian dom and works well with phrygian dom.
      Phry b4 can be used as a minor scale or a dom7 scale. It works well with The altered scale and the dominant diminished scale. (Octatonic diminished mode 2)

  • @poison_corpse3140
    @poison_corpse3140 Před rokem

    Hi everyone! Is it posible to transpose songs from the Major scale to Harmonic Major scale and how?

  • @dandilion62
    @dandilion62 Před 2 měsíci

    Check out the beautiful Eagles song The Sad Cafe with A Dm E

  • @rpycmHblu1
    @rpycmHblu1 Před 3 lety +2

    A, C#/A, Dm/A, Dm#11/A, Amaj7 maybe?
    Loving your content

    • @gassug2
      @gassug2 Před 2 lety

      sounds more like a Ddim7 rather than Dm#11 to me

  • @BadToad1963
    @BadToad1963 Před 3 lety

    I come up with: A, A+M7, F+/A, AM7sus4#5, AM7

  • @sevag33
    @sevag33 Před 3 lety

    In which type of music is this scale used?
    It's the first time I hear about it

  • @mikebryant4146
    @mikebryant4146 Před 3 lety

    So what would be the definitive 3-chord Harmonic Major progression?: I-ii-V?, I-iv-V? or I-vii-V?

  • @williamcompitello2302
    @williamcompitello2302 Před 2 lety +1

    I learned a little jazz theory some years back by watching videos. However, I get tired of applying modes and scales to other things. I like harmonic major for what it is. I think "what if a song is in harmonic major rather than the song just using harmonic major?"

  • @lauroneto3360
    @lauroneto3360 Před 3 lety

    hey, if you use the F(the b6) note to build the C# chord, you'll have a major 3rd (7th) chord: C#(7). I think its used a lot in music with the cadence: ...III - IV - V - I for instance. I think the theory behind that cadence must come from that scale, right? Or maybe its another b6 major scale that I dont know.

    • @lauroneto3360
      @lauroneto3360 Před 3 lety

      As a modal interchange cadence, of course.

  • @oskarliedtke6440
    @oskarliedtke6440 Před 3 lety

    Can I also think of it as the third mode of the harmonic minor scale?

    • @MusicTheoryForGuitar
      @MusicTheoryForGuitar  Před 3 lety +1

      It's not the 3rd mode of harmonic minor

    • @Wind-nj5xz
      @Wind-nj5xz Před 3 lety +1

      The third mode of harmonic minor is ionian augmented and C ionian augmented goes CDEFG#AB while C harmonic major goes CDEFGAbB (G# and Ab are enharmonic to each other meaning they produce the same sound but are written differently because the fifth note in C ionian augmented is a semitone higher compared to the fifth note in C major while the sixth in C harmonic major is a semitone lower) so the note that differs it from the major scale is the same, but both are different scales

  • @droobie_
    @droobie_ Před 3 lety

    Interesting you can have C# and C#m very cool

  • @EclecticEssentric
    @EclecticEssentric Před 3 lety +1

    Weird. Fun. Have a beautiful day!

  • @madisont3123
    @madisont3123 Před 3 lety

    its interesting that the scale has a C# minor and also a C# major if you see the F as an E#

  • @ugajin7348
    @ugajin7348 Před 3 lety

    After hearing this, I finally went out and bought a (inexpensive) guitar off gumtree. In case you were interested, it was/is a Tim Arnstrong Hellcat. ☠️

  • @jimmydonlon6762
    @jimmydonlon6762 Před 2 lety

    I'm going to name 'em:
    A
    A maj 7 augmented
    Dm/A bass
    A maj7 augmented sus4
    A maj7

  • @TimmyRiordan
    @TimmyRiordan Před 3 lety

    Here's my best go at naming the 2 chords*.
    The 5x666x chord is an Amaj7b13
    The x0313x chord is a Dm/A add#4--it could be Dmb11/A as well but there's no 7 so I don't like that answer. I don't like the first answer either because who has ever heard of an add #4? But here we are.
    Calling the 5x666x chord A augmented major seven doesn't work for me since it requires naming the F from the scale an E# in the chord.
    Likewise calling the x0313x chord a D Diminished/A requires the G# from the scale be named an Ab in the chord.
    And now I've officially spent waaay too much time thinking about and this.
    (And I'm sure to realize I'm wrong somehow moments after I post).
    *I think Melody Painters Studio nailed the most sensible, (i.e. understandable) way of writing the chords (if you're going to do a little abuse of notation) [hat tip to Noah Orlowski].

    • @markvb305
      @markvb305 Před 3 lety

      I went with E# because there was otherwise no 5th in that chord whatsoever, and since it got strummed for a bit, that b13 couldn't really function as a passing note either.
      Also, now I'm giving it another though: the 5 - b13 interval is a spicy minor 9th. Playing an Amaj7b13 without it just isn't the same! That's like playing C E G and calling it Amin7/C!

    • @TimmyRiordan
      @TimmyRiordan Před 3 lety

      @@markvb305 The way I was taught jazz chords (for the guitar in particular), the fifth is always optional. For instance there's not fifth in an A13 (5x567x). That A13 is a good point of reference for the reasoning I used. If you raise the G up a half step to G# and the F# down a half step to F you've got the Amaj7b13 Tomasso played. Anyway, it's all enharmonically equivalent. Thanks for the comment and making think on it a bit more.

  • @user-pm2xj9st6f
    @user-pm2xj9st6f Před dnem

    A, Amaj7b13, Asus4#5, Amaj7sus4#5, Amaj7

  • @Elienguitar
    @Elienguitar Před 3 lety

    I don't know how to "feel" when I listen to these chords lol, asympathetic.

  • @lamper2
    @lamper2 Před 3 lety +2

    if chords are being built on these notes, why are they completely different than an A major scale if you're just lowering the 6th? after 18 seconds, i'm lost.

    • @MusicTheoryForGuitar
      @MusicTheoryForGuitar  Před 3 lety +3

      Changing only one note changes 3 triads and 4 7th chords. If all this sounds obscure to you, I recommend this playlist - watch all of it: czcams.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/video.html

  • @buellzz
    @buellzz Před 3 lety

    Even if no one gave a... LMAO too funny

  • @amanthatthinks
    @amanthatthinks Před 3 lety +2

    It sounds like traditional Indian music
    .
    ..
    Yeah its Raga sarasangi in carnatic music of india..

  • @anthonyd504
    @anthonyd504 Před 3 lety +1

    Could you talk about the hungarian minor scale, one day ? I tried to use it, but I don't know how to use them...

  • @gabrielmahutasoit8953
    @gabrielmahutasoit8953 Před 2 lety

    2:49 the minor IV chord in this case is different from the modal interchange : modal interchange allows us to use Dm7 (fourth chord of Am, the paralel scale of A), but in this scale, we have to use DmΔ to keep the scale. But seriously, A - Dm7, despite having a clashy interval of C (of Dm7) - C# (of A), sounds greater than A - DmΔ (in my ear, I love dissonances and clashes😂)

  • @muchnoeizdelie4694
    @muchnoeizdelie4694 Před 3 lety +1

    +

  • @maddieromg
    @maddieromg Před 3 lety

    How about harmonizing with scales that have more than 7 notes? Barry Harris???

  • @joelstephenson8017
    @joelstephenson8017 Před 3 lety

    The scale itself is a bit confusing, but still nice.

    • @MusicTheoryForGuitar
      @MusicTheoryForGuitar  Před 3 lety +1

      Takes some getting used to as a composer. Pure listeners take to it immediately (strangely enough)

  • @williamhills6927
    @williamhills6927 Před 3 lety

    Help I play violin what does half of this mean.

  • @CouchPotato2570
    @CouchPotato2570 Před 3 lety +2

    Harmonic major scale is bae 3:

  • @brickwilliamsguitar6307

    It’s unique, but it doesn’t sound SO GOOD to me. Good example of another scale that doesn’t get used too much because it just doesn’t sound that great.

  • @kukumuniu5658
    @kukumuniu5658 Před 3 lety

    Too much ####
    cdefg a-flat b is easier

  • @Bananameow
    @Bananameow Před 3 lety

    Hello internet i haven't practiced and learned my guitar for a few weeks😂 i dont know what lesson im in now😂

  • @christopherheckman7957
    @christopherheckman7957 Před 3 lety +1

    (1) Classical music theory: "Don't use augmented 2nds!" Bach: "Hold mein Bier."
    (2) You left out the chords A+maj7, the other Bdim7th, C#+7, Ddim7, E+7. (Some of these are enharmonic.)
    (3) Now for a general observation about all of your "scale" videos: You've shown how to build chord progressions and leads based on many of those scales, but you've left out bass lines. In today's video, most every bass note is an A. (Not always a problem, though; as a bass player, you can keep hitting that open A while grabbing a drink during a song.)

  • @michaelneufeld2649
    @michaelneufeld2649 Před 2 měsíci

    This was a mistake to click on, not your fault but I’m way more confused than before. Lol

    • @MusicTheoryForGuitar
      @MusicTheoryForGuitar  Před 2 měsíci

      If that's confusing, start here: czcams.com/video/WSB3iIkDy7o/video.html&pp=gAQBiAQB