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Prerequisite: Master several minor 5-finger patterns and several major scales.
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To determine the pitches of a harmonic minor scale, play a minor 5-finger pattern with one hand:
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Next, add the note a ½ step above and the note a ½ step below the 5-finger pattern with your other hand:
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All harmonic minor scales use the same fingering as their parallel major scales except the following fat cats:
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| Really |
fat |
cats |
love |
eating |
bugs. |
| Right hand |
f sharp |
c sharp |
left hand |
e flat |
b flat |
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Right hand, f# and c# :
Left hand, e flat :
Left hand, b flat : |
34 123 1234 ...
21 4321 321 ...
21 321 4321 ... |
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TIPS:
- C harmonic minor uses only 2 black keys, E flat and A flat, which are the only notes played by the middle fingers.
- B harmonic minor uses 4 in the left hand all but once in 2 octaves.
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