Using the Harmonic Minor over the V chord
Lesson time: (1min 15sec)
Ollie Weston shows how raising the seventh to form the A harmonic minor scale adds tension and pull over the V chord in a minor cadence.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Exploring Jazz Saxophone: Part 2 - Soloing on Songs and Chord Sequences
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
A Harmonic Minor Scale
In this lesson, we will explore the A harmonic minor scale, which is immensely useful for minor cadences.
Exploring the Scale
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Starting Point:
- We begin with the A minor scale and play up to G.
- Notice that the seventh note (G) sits quite nicely and feels stable.
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Raising the Seventh:
- We will raise that G to G sharp.
- This creates a distinct and noticeable effect.
The Effect of G Sharp
- The G sharp really stands out.
- It evokes a sense of expectation and anticipation.
- You may feel that this note creates a need for resolution.
Practical Application
- Let's play it again and leave the G sharp hanging.
- There is considerable value in incorporating a G sharp at the top of our minor scale.
This adjustment transforms our scale from an Aeolian mode into an A harmonic minor.
Conclusion
- The harmonic minor scale will be incredibly useful throughout this course for navigating minor cadences.
About the instructor
Since graduating from the Leeds College of Music (BA Hons) and the Guildhall School of Music (Post Graduate Diploma in Performance), Ollie has built a busy and varied career in music. As a saxophonist he has performed in live and studio settings with artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, Bonobo, Frank Turner, the London Jazz Orchestra, the Hackney Colliery Band, the Ambient Jazz Ensemble and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He is also the co-leader of the jazz quartet 'Time Is Of The Essence', and composes and arranges material for this and other ensembles. Ollie is active in music education, currently as course leader for the jazz department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (junior school), where he runs jazz ensembles, big band and theory classes. He has written a series of 'Exploring Jazz' books for Schott Music that are published worldwide and feature on exam syllabuses in the UK. Ollie has also run workshops for Oxford University, Pro Corda Strings and BABSWE, as well as the Guildhall School of Music summer schools. In his Exploring Jazz Saxophone courses, Ollie takes you from getting started right through to soloing confidently over songs and chord sequences, building the improvising skills that put a real jazz player's vocabulary at your fingertips. read more