Harmonic Minor

The Natural Minor Scale is what you get by playing the natural notes starting on C:
C(1) – D(2) – E♭(♭3) – F(4) – G(5) – A♭(♭6) – B♭(♭7)

1
♭2
2♭3
3
4
♭5
5♭6
6
♭7
7
1
CDE♭FGA♭B♭C

The Harmonic Minor Scale is a slightly altered minor scale that raises the ♭7 scale degree up one half-step to 7.  The harmonic minor scale on C looks like this:
C(1) – D(2) – E♭(♭3) – F(4) – G(5) – A♭(♭6) – B(7)

1
♭2
2♭3
3
4
♭5
5♭6
6
♭7
71
CDE♭FGA♭BC

The table below shows the scale degrees ordered in fourths.  Note that 7 to ♭3 is a diminished fourth and 4 to 7, ♭6 to 2 are augmented fourths.

Harmonic Minor Modes
aug4

dim4
P4
aug4
P4
P4
47♭3♭6251Aeolian Nat.7

Above we’re looking at C Harmonic Minor on our fretboard.  We start on the 4 (F). Because of the raised scale degree, our natural minor pattern across the fretboard won’t work.  Notably, the pattern of fourths across is interrupted between the 4 and 7, which is an augmented fourth (which is the same sound as a diminished fifth).  Simply move up one string and up one half-step to achieve an augmented fourth. ♭6 to 2 is also an augmented fourth. From 7 to ♭3 is a diminished fourth (major third), so move up one string and down one half-step.

You can apply the below interval pattern to any harmonic minor scale:
aug4 – dim4 – P4 – aug4 – P4 – P4

The root chord for harmonic minor is the Minor-Major Seventh Chord (e.g. C-E♭-G-B).

In the fret diagrams below, seventh chords belonging to the harmonic mode are illustrated as drop 2 voicings in root position (root-fifth-seventh-third). 

   Min maj7                Min7♭5                  Maj7#5                 Min7                     Dom7                      Maj7                     Dim7

The chord scale for harmonic minor is 1-♭3-5-7-9-11-♭13.

 

Phrygian Dominant

The fifth mode of the harmonic minor starting on the fifth scale degree is the Phrygian dominant or Mixolydian♭9♭13. Seen below is the G Phrygian Dominant scale. The scale looks similar to the Phrygian scale, but with a major third. 

1♭2
2
♭3
34
♭5
5♭6
6
♭7
7
1
GA♭BCDE♭FG

The root chord for G Phrygian dominant is the dominant seventh chord ( G-B-D-F).
A major triad from the second scale degree will have the intervals ♭2-4-♭6. So the chord scale for Phrygian dominant is 1-3-5-♭7-♭9-11-♭13, 

In the first row of the table below are intervals from the Phrygian dominant scale in “fourths”. The corresponding intervals from the harmonic minor scale are listed in the second row. The intervals between the two scales are a fifth apart –  1-5, 4-1, ♭7-4, 3-7, ♭6-♭3, ♭2-♭6, 5-2.

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