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The Harmonic Minor Scale Explored

By Dan Cross, About.com

8 of 10

Listening to and Practicing Harmonic Minor Solos

The following audio examples will allow you to hear what the harmonic minor scale sounds like in a soloing situation, and will also provide you with a backing track, which will allow you to try out your own solos using the harmonic minor. There is only one chord being played here, an Aminor chord. So, the A harmonic scale can be used for soloing in this situation.

Aminor vamp with solo
Real Audio | MP3
listen to the sound of the harmonic minor

Aminor vamp without solo
Real Audio | MP3
solo along using A harmonic minor scale

You'll want to spend a lot of time with the above audio clips (especially the one that lets you solo) to get a feel for the harmonic minor scale, and to help figure out some riffs that sound good to you. If you have a friend that plays guitar... even better! Get him/her to strum an A minor chord, while you experiment with the new scale, then allow him/her a chance to solo. Don't be afraid to move back and forth between the new scale and ones you're more comfortable with (blues scale, etc.) in your solo, and contrast the difference in sound.

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